An adult male raccoon was found deceased on Prigmore Road in East Ridge on Dec. 28. It was retrieved by East Ridge Animal Services and submitted to the USDA freezer at its location for rabies testing, as there was no human or domestic animal exposure.
USDA tested the animal for rabies on Tuesday. It was submitted to the CDC for confirmation on Wednesday. The CDC confirmed rabies on Wednesday and variant typed it to Raccoon Variant Rabies (RVR). This is the first RVR case in Hamilton County since 2008.
The Hamilton County Department of Health has encouraged East Ridge Animal Services to continue doing as they have been doing for many years.
Officials said, "If you see a raccoon, fox or coyote that looks sick or unwell, contact the shelter at 423 664-0271 or non-emergency dispatch at 423 622-1725. Just as we have always done, we will remove sick or injured wildlife. All sick rabies vectors are provided to the USDA for testing.
"The best protection for your family against the rabies virus is to never approach, attempt to capture or pet wildlife. Please ensure that your pets have current rabies vaccinations. If your dog, cat or ferret does not have a current rabies vaccination, please contact your veterinarian."
For further concerns or questions, the public may contact East Ridge Animal Services at 423 664-0271 or the Environmental Health Department of the Hamilton County Health Department at 423 209-8000.