Cow tested positive for rabies

BLAND COUNTY, VA (LOOTPRESS) – A cow has tested positive for rabies.

According to the Virginia Department of Health , on August 1, 2024, a cow on West Blue Grass Trail in Bland was seen drooling and stumbling. The cow subsequently died while receiving treatment in Blacksburg on August 2, 2024.

This cow tested positive for rabies, and the source of the infection remains unknown.

If any individuals or pets have recently had contact with a potentially infected animal in this area, please call the Bland County Health Department at (276) 688-3642.

Ensure that your pets’ rabies vaccinations are current. Livestock can also receive rabies vaccinations.

It is important to note that rabies is fatal once symptoms appear, and all mammals, including humans, are at risk of contracting rabies.

The disease is typically spread through bites, but it can also be transmitted through saliva or brain tissue from a rabid animal if it comes into contact with the eyes, mucous membranes, or open wounds.

This news also comes as other animals have tested positive for rabies in and around that area.