{"id":10609,"date":"2023-11-03T16:47:59","date_gmt":"2023-11-03T20:47:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=10609"},"modified":"2023-11-03T16:48:45","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T20:48:45","slug":"10609-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/archived-news-releases\/2023-regional-news-releases\/10609-2\/","title":{"rendered":"West Piedmont Health District Advises Area Residents of Wildlife Testing Positive for Rabies"},"content":{"rendered":"

November 3, 2023
\nMedia Contact:\u00a0<\/strong>Nancy Bell, population health manager, nancy.bell@vdh.virginia.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

West Piedmont Health District Advises Area Residents of Wildlife Testing Positive for Rabies
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ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – \u00a0<\/strong>To protect the health of residents and visitors, the West Piedmont Health District is advising the community that two skunks have tested positive for rabies. They were found in in the same general area of Glade Hill within the past two weeks.<\/p>\n

On October 13, a skunk testing positive for rabies was found in the vicinity of Old Franklin Turnpike and Brooks Mill Road. Most recently, on October 31, another skunk testing positive for rabies was found in a neighborhood around Crafts Church Road in Glade Hill. \u00a0Due to the relative proximity and timing of these cases within Glade Hill\/Union Hall, the West Piedmont Health District wants to remind everyone, and especially pet owners, of the risks of rabies.<\/p>\n

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system.\u00a0 It is almost always fatal, unless preventive treatment is administered before symptoms develop. \u201cPrevention is everything when you\u2019re dealing with rabies,\u201d said Dr. Kerry Gateley, director for the West Piedmont Health District. \u201cWe have to do everything we can to minimize exposures, from vaccinating pets to avoiding unnecessary human contact with unvaccinated animals. This includes not creating situations in which feral or wild animals might expose each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Virginia law requires that all dogs and cats four months of age and older be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and that vaccinations be kept current.<\/p>\n

Additional Steps to Protect Against Rabies Exposure:<\/p>\n