West Virginia
Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Information Regarding Raccoon Rabies Active Surveillance

What is raccoon rabies active surveillance?

This means that local health departments are actively looking for cases of raccoon rabies.

Where is active surveillance underway?

Many local health departments in the western part of the state are conducting active surveillance. The surveillance area can change depending on where cases of raccoon rabies are found.

How is active surveillance conducted?

During active surveillance, all raccoons with abnormal behavior are tested for rabies. Roadkill raccoons can also be tested for rabies. Skunks, foxes, and coyotes that are roadkills or behaving abnormally should also be tested.

What is considered abnormal behavior?

Abnormal behavior includes:

• Attacking people or animals;
• Being out in the open during daylight hours;
• Exhibiting “drunken” behavior;
• Appearing sick or injured; or
• Acting “strange.”

Healthy trapped raccoons should not be tested.

How can I help with active surveillance?

Contact wildlife or animal control personnel in your area if you see an animal with abnormal behavior or roadkill. You can also call your local health department for assistance.

What is raccoon rabies?

Raccoon rabies is caused by a virus that attacks the brain. Symptoms include unusual or aggressive behavior, an inability to eat or drink, balance problems, circling, seizures, coma, and death. Rabies is also found in skunks, foxes, bats, and other wildlife. Wild animals can infect cats, dogs, other pets, and domestic animals.

Why should I be concerned about raccoon rabies?

Raccoons are more likely to be around people and pets than are other types of wildlife. Raccoon rabies was first seen in West Virginia in 1977 in the eastern part of the state and has slowly spread westward. Raccoon rabies was confirmed in Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Webster counties in 2001 and in Braxton County in 2002 due to passive surveillance efforts. No other counties have been positive since then.  Rabies is getting closer to the population centers of Kanawha and Wood counties and may reach the Ohio River and beyond.

How can I become infected with the rabies virus?

The rabies virus is in the saliva of infected animals. Rabies can be spread if the saliva of an infected animal gets into a bite, scratch, scrape, or open wound.

What should I do if I am bitten by or exposed to an animal that might have rabies?

Wash the wound with soap and water immediately. Call your local health department to report the exposure. If possible, capture or kill the animal, but do not damage the animal’s head. Go to your family doctor or the emergency room.

State of West Virginia (WV)
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR)
Bureau for Public Health (BPH)
Office of Epidemiology and Health Promotion (OEHP)
Division of Surveillance and Disease Control (DSDC)
Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program (IDEP)

A-Z Listing of West Virginia's Reportable Diseases

This FAQ was last updated July 2004.                 This page has been visited times.

If you have questions or comments about the West Virginia Division of Surveillance and Disease Control, please direct them to Loretta Haddy at Loretta.E.Haddy@wv.gov.  If you have questions or comments about this Web page, please direct them to Betty Jo Tyler at Betty.J.Tyler@wv.gov.