Rabies poses a serious threat in Cape Region

For the second time in less than a month, a raccoon has tested positive for rabies, giving concrete evidence to everyone in our readership area that rabies is endemic in Delaware.

In one case, a rabid raccoon hid in bushes near a home; in the second case, a raccoon got in through a cat door and attacked a homeowner.

In both cases, the person who was exposed underwent a series of vaccinations to prevent the disease. Health experts say once a person has symptoms of rabies, the disease is deadly. There is no cure.

Endemic means rabies can be found everywhere in the state. State officials say last year, six people were bitten by infected animals, among them six cats, two dogs, five raccoons, two bats and one fox.

Many people associate rabies with aggressive, threatening behavior, but health officials say that's not always the case.

This means pets allowed to roam free could be nicked or scratched by a rabid animal, return home, and later scratch a person, possibly introducing an infection before anyone realized the pet was rabid. Even pet saliva can be transmit rabies, if it gets into a person's eyes, nose, mouth or a scratch in the skin.

The danger of rabies is real. At the same time, health officials say rabies is nearly 100 percent preventable.

To protect both people and pets, it is critical that all pets be up to date on rabies vaccines. Vaccines become less potent over time, so don't delay a revaccination.

Pet owners who allow their pets to roam should reconsider the danger. Pet doors should be secured overnight so feral animals can't invite themselves in.

As development gives wild creatures less and less space to roam wild, those animals are turning up more frequently in our neighborhoods.

Rabies is endemic in Delaware, putting pet owners on the front lines of the battle against the disease.

Still, anyone can come into contact with a rabid animal. Everyone must be vigilant.