ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 13, 1996 TAG: 9608130094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: EXMORE
SOURCE: Associated Press
In the past two years, rabies has spread through the long, narrow peninsula of Virginia's Eastern Shore, infecting raccoons in two counties.
The epidemic worked its way from Maryland into upper Accomack County in 1994, and the leading edge has moved south into Northampton County.
Northampton leads the state this year with 45 reported rabies cases. Accomack, which had 40 confirmed cases last year, is down to 14 cases.
Many veterinarians last year warned of the spread of rabies across the state and some offered discounts on rabies vaccinations for pet owners.
The outbreak began in the late 1970s with infected raccoons in Shenandoah. Now, more than 83 percent of Virginia is affected.
For every report of a rabid animal, many other rabid raccoon encounters go unconfirmed, said Keith Privett, an environmental health supervisor for the state Health Department.
``If we took the time to confirm them all, we would show some big numbers,'' Privett said. ``But when you see raccoons attacking dogs, attacking people - I even had one charge my vehicle - why go to the expense of testing them? They're rabid.''
So far, raccoons have bitten at least two people on the shore - both in Eastville during the July weekend when Hurricane Bertha blew in.
Privett said rabies probably will run its course on the shore within a year or two, largely because fewer raccoons will be left alive to maintain it.
LENGTH: Short : 36 linesby CNB