Raccoon That Attacked Dog In Riverview Tests Positive For Rabies

RIVERVIEW, FL — A raccoon that attacked a dog near Frost Aster Drive in Riverview has tested positive for rabies.

This is the first confirmed case of rabies in Hillsborough County this year.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, a man found a raccoon attacking his dog. The dog was taken to a nearby veterinary clinic and treated for wounds, received a rabies vaccine and is expected to recover.

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. According to the Hillsborough County Department of Health, there is always some level of the virus in the wildlife population.

DOH-Hillsborough is notifying all homes within a 500-foot radius of where the raccoon was found. The dog is quarantined to ensure it does not become ill with rabies. An animal with rabies could infect other wild animals or domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies.

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 health department. Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans.

If a pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County at (813) 307-8059.

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.