Dogs, Resident In River Hills Attacked By Rabid Raccoon

VALRICO, FL — A raccoon in the Laurel Pointe Drive area of River Hills is the first confirmed case of rabies for 2020 in Hillsborough County.

On Jan. 25, shortly after a man in River Hills let his two vaccinated dogs out, he heard yelping. When he went to check, a raccoon was on the back of one of his dogs. He isn't sure if his other dog was also attacked. As a precaution, both dogs will receive boosters and will be quarantined for 45 days.

The man was bitten and scratched when he separated the raccoon from his dog. He is being treated for his exposure.

The Department of Health-Hillsborough County is notifying all homes within a 500-foot radius of where the raccoon was found. An animal with rabies could infect other wild animals or domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies.

No rabies alert has been issued since this is a single case found in wildlife. However, this incident serves as a reminder to ensure pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations, said the DOH-Hillsborough.

"There is always some level of the virus in our wildlife population," said DOH public information officer Kevin Watler.

People should avoid contact with any animal that lives in the wild, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes.

Anyone who has been bitten, scratched or exposed to the saliva of any wild animal or an animal that is acting unusual should report the exposure to the DOH. Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans.

In 2019, Hillsborough County identified only one rabid animal, a raccoon, in the Riverview area. One dog was exposed during that incident.

In 2018, Hillsborough County identified 10 rabid animals (six cats, two bats and two raccoons) that exposed 20 people and five domestic dogs to the disease.