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Lewis County Public Health Reports Skunk in Town of
Lowville and Racoon in Town of Martinsburg Test Positive for Rabies
Published: September 09, 2025
at 03:30 p.m.
By: Press Release
from Lewis County Public Health
Lewis County
Public Health has been notified by the New York State Department of Health
Wadsworth Laboratory that a skunk in the Town of Lowville and a raccoon in
the Town of Martinsburg have tested positive for rabies. There was no human
or domestic animal contact with either animal.
Lewis County
Public Health reminds all Lewis County residents and those that visit our
county that rabies is a very serious and deadly disease affecting the
central nervous system. It can be transmitted from infected animals to
humans if they are exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of a rabid
animal through a bite or scratch. It is also possible for a person to have
contact with a bat and not know it while asleep, therefore all bats that
are found in the room of a sleeping person or small child should be
captured and tested for rabies. To view a video on how to safely capture a
bat, please visit: https://youtu.be/_YhnV5WJQBA
It is very
important for people and their pets to avoid direct contact with wild
animals, particularly if the animals are behaving abnormally, and ensure
your pets are up to date with rabies vaccinations. The next rabies clinic
in Lewis County is scheduled for Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 7-8 pm
at the Leroy Nichols Building at the Lewis County Fairgrounds. For more
information about rabies, call Lewis County Public Health at 315- 376-5453.
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