Discovery Of Rabid Raccoon, Cat Prompts Westchester County Health Alert
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The discovery of two animals with rabies has prompted health officials in Westchester County to issue a public alert.
Westchester County's Department of Health says that a rabid raccoon was found in Larchmont on Monday and a rabid stray cat was discovered in Yorktown Heights Tuesday.
The raccoon was first seen on Sherwood Drive and was captured on Boston Post Road a few hours later. The cat was found near in the vicinity of Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park on Crompond Road. Officials are urging anyone who believes that they or their pet may have had contact with either animal should contact the county's Department of Health immediately at (914)-813-5000 to find out if treatment is necessary.
Health officials say animals with rabies may exhibit signs of becoming either abnormally aggressive or unusually tame.
Peter DeLucia, the Assistant Commissioner of Health for the Westchester County Department of Health, told 1010 WINS that the recent cases show that rabies are present "throughout Westchester County.
"What happens is with these stray and wild animals, it's out there in Westchester. They interact and obviously from Larchmont to Yorktown, it's not the same animal that spread the virus," DeLucia said.
Residents can get more information about rabies and rabies prevention at www.westchestergov.com/health or by calling the county's Rabies Infoline at (914) 813-5010.
