洛杉矶县确认超过50年来首例狂犬病浣熊

洛杉矶县发现了超过50年来首例感染狂犬病的浣熊。1该县最后一次记录浣熊患狂犬病是在1973年。1一只狗和四个人在韦斯特莱克村的工作地点可能接触过这只病患动物。1接触者目前正在接受疫苗系列跟进护理。1

洛杉矶县今年的狂犬病疫情形势严峻。1该县今年已记录69例狂犬病蝙蝠病例，创下历史最高纪录。1在提交狂犬病检测的蝙蝠中，近三分之一被感染。1狂犬病一旦症状出现后几乎完全致命，美国每年狂犬病死亡人数少于10例，而全球每年狂犬病致死数万人，主要发生在非洲和亚洲。1

Los Angeles County health authorities have confirmed the discovery of a rabid raccoon, marking the first such case in the region in more than 50 years 1. The infected animal was encountered at a workplace in Westlake Village, where four people and one dog may have had contact with it 1. All exposed individuals are currently receiving a series of preventive vaccinations 1.

The case represents a significant milestone in the county's disease surveillance, as the last documented instance of rabies in a raccoon occurred in 1973 1. The discovery comes amid a broader uptick in rabies activity across the region. County officials recorded 69 rabid bats this year alone, the highest number on record, with nearly one-third of all bats submitted for rabies testing coming back positive 1. While rabies deaths in the United States remain rare—fewer than 10 annually—the disease is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear 1. Globally, the infection causes tens of thousands of deaths each year, predominantly in Africa and Asia 1.