THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 13, 1996 TAG: 9608130314
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: EXMORE LENGTH: 39 lines
In the past two years, rabies has spread through the long, narrow peninsula of Virginia's Eastern Shore, infecting raccoons in two counties.
The disease worked its way from Maryland into upper Accomack County in 1994, and the leading edge has moved south into Northampton County.
Northampton now 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, including Hampton Roads, and some offered discounts on rabies vaccinations.
The outbreak began in the late 1970s with infected raccoons in Shenandoah. Now, more than 83 percent of Virginia is affected.
On the Eastern Shore, rabid raccoons have become a menace.
At Occohannock Elementary School, principal Perry Whitley encountered an ailing raccoon trying to get inside the building. He grabbed a length of plastic pipe, went outside and spotted the animal about 25 yards away.
``It was really scrawny and its fur was out of order and partly gone,'' Whitley said. ``I waved the pipe and shouted, `Scat! Shoo!' ''
The animal growled and hissed and charged after Whitley. It was only about 10 yards behind Whitley when he ran back inside the school and slammed the door behind him.
Whitley quickly telephoned the animal control office and a church next door to the school, spreading the word.
For every report, 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. So far, raccoons have bitten at least two people on the Shore - both in Eastville during the July weekend Hurricane Bertha blew in. by CNB