The Shadow
LEWISBURG, W.Va. (AP) – The rabies outbreak that has plagued rural areas of Greenbrier County all year has made it to the city, as a rabid raccoon was shot in downtown Lewisburg.
Animal Control Officer Robert McClung shot the animal in front of a hardware store last week. Lab tests subsequently confirmed the raccoon was rabid.
McClung says it’s the first case of a rabid raccoon he’s heard of in bustling Lewisburg, the seat of Greenbrier County.
His gun was loaded with shot, rather than bullets that could possibly ricochet and hit a bystander.
Officials are at a loss to account for the surge in rabies cases in Greenbrier County this year. More than 40 confirmed cases have been recorded, far more than usual.
