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HealthFriday, November 6

Rhode Island has found 46 rabid animals this year, nearly double the usual count

The 5AM North Providence teamFrom today’s edition · 1 min read · 2 sources

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If you have a pet or live near wildlife, this one's for you. The Health Department has identified 46 rabid wild animals so far this year, against an annual average of 25 from 2021 through 2025. Recent positives include animals in Providence, Smithfield and Pawtucket.

The state's epidemiologist acknowledged "a lot of unanswered questions" about the cause. On Sunday, a person was bitten or scratched by a raccoon near Payton Avenue in Warwick and has begun treatment. The raccoon wasn't captured or tested.

This year's rabid animal count is nearly double the average

Sources: WPRI.com, Warwick Patch

View as table
Value
Yearly average, 2021-202525 animals
2026 so far46 animals
  • Vaccines: state law requires them for dogs, cats and ferrets
  • Bitten or scratched? Wash the wound for 15 minutes
  • Report every animal bite to your town's animal control officer
  • Don't feed wild or stray animals, or your pets outdoors

Raccoons and bats lead this year's rabid animal count

25
of the rabid animals were raccoons
14
were bats
49
people treated for exposure before the Warwick case

Source: Warwick Patch

Sources: WPRI.com, Warwick Patch

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NeighborsPawtucket's leaders demand an apology from Hasbro and haven't heard backMayor Donald Grebien and City Council President Terrence Mercer say they hand-delivered a letter to Hasbro's board last week. It calls CEO Chris Cocks' comments "condescending and dismissive" and asks for a formal public apology.Today’s editionRead

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