Delaware's first rabies case of 2023 announced
By DOVER — The Delaware Division of Public Health announced today its first reported rabies case of 2023.
A news release said Division of Public Health received a report last week of a human and their pet dog who had been exposed to a potentially rabid groundhog in a residential neighborhood located near Bringhurst Woods Park on Washington St., off Carr Road, in Wilmington.
The groundhog was tested for rabies and the results came back positive on Friday.
Both the individual and their pet dog have been advised to receive prophylaxis for rabies following the exposure, Division of Public Health said.
Since Jan. 1, Division of Public Health has performed rabies tests on 75 animals. In 2022, Division of Public Health performed rabies tests on 198 animals, 11 of which were confirmed to be rabid, including two raccoons, three foxes, four cats, one bat and one skunk.
That number represents only a fraction of rabies in Delaware because in most cases, Division of Public Health only tests animals that have potentially exposed humans to rabies.
Anyone who thinks they might have been bitten, scratched by, or encountered a groundhog or feral cat in this area should immediately contact their health care provider or call the Division of Public Health Rabies Program at 302-744-4995.
Anyone in the area who thinks a groundhog may have bitten their pet should call their private veterinarian to have their pet examined and treated, and the exposure reported to the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
