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mine the wildlife population number.”
Rabies in wild animals has been present in the United States for many years, though “for about 10 years” it has become “a bigger problem” due to both the number of infected animals and types of animals infected, Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Director Dr. James Burns said.
Dr. Burns said the infection is like “expanding ripples on a pond,” stretching out from West Virginia and reaching across Virginia and up and down the east coast.
He referred to the disease as endemic — something that enters a community or population of animals and stays. “They just keep passing it around,” the doctor said. , “There are several strains of ra:bies,” Dr. Burns reported, explaining the type found now in skunks in Madison, Page and Shenandoah counties was once believed to infect racoons. “Now, it’s the skunk and racoon strain,” he said.
In 1989, Rappahannock County reported three cases of rabid animals to the county Health Department, with one case confirmed. In the first six months of 1990, no cases of rabies have been reported in Rappahannock.
Culpeper County recorded six cases in 1989 — four racoons and one skunk and one case so far this year, a cow.
Madison County residents have recorded no cases to date this year though last year five cases were confirmed — four skunks and one racoon. Comparatively Fauquier confirmed one case — a skunk — this year; and two in 1989 — one fox and one skunk.
Orange County so far this year has confirmed one skunk with rabies and last year the county recorded four cases — two racoons, one fox and one cat.
Through all these reports, the most common carrier of the disease was the skunk.
93.0%