A Jan. 26, 2012 article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette summarized 2011 statistics regarding rabies in Pennsylvania. Chester County had 29 confirmed animal rabies cases in 2011 – the most in any county in PA. Lancaster County and Allegheny County each had 26 rabies cases, while Westmoreland County reported 25 rabies incidents.
These are the 2011 figures released by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, with 450 animals testing positive for rabies:
* 245 raccoons
* 54 skunks
* 50 cats
* 44 foxes
* 34 bats
* 6 cattle
* 6 groundhogs
* 3 dogs
* 2 deer, beavers, goats
* 1 bobcat
In order for a person or animal to be stricken with rabies, they must come in direct contact with rabid animals. The PA Department of Agriculture defines contact as: bites from an animal, scratches that break the skin or animal saliva that contacts a break in the skin or mucus membranes such as the eyes, nose or mouth of the victim person or animal.
If you or a loved one have been attacked by a dog, call 800-980-4842 for a free home consultation. Attorney Thomas J. Newell has represented Pennsylvania personal injury victims since 1981. See his website, PADogAttackLawyer.com for information regarding Attorney Newell’s work on behalf of dog bite victims throughout PA.
