Androscoggin County sees rise in rabies cases

LEWISTON – Maine health officials are seeing a rise in rabies cases in some counties, while the statewide figure is getting close to last year’s total.

Androscoggin County reported 10 cases last year, but there already have been 15 cases with more than three months to go this year.

Statewide, a total of 67 cases of rabies were cataloged in Maine last year, but health officials say the number is already up to 60 with more than a quarter left this year.

“By year’s end we expect to see a rise in numbers of cases,” said Geoff Beckett, assistant state epidemiologist.

Most of the cases in Androscoggin County have involved raccoons, in some cases attacking family pets.

Beckett said it’s critically important for dogs and cats to be current on their rabies shots.

In Lewiston, four people are receiving vaccinations after touching a rabid raccoon. In Lisbon, a rabid skunk attacked a dog twice. And the animal control officer for Lisbon and Sabattus also was attacked by a rabid skunk.

Beckett said cases of human illness from rabies are rare. Nationally, there are between one and three each year. Maine hasn’t had a case since the 1930s, he said.