Rabid raccoons found in Boardman

BOARDMAN — Laboratory reports confirmed that two raccoons found in Boardman Township tested positive for the rabies virus variant common to raccoons in the eastern United States.

The raccoons were found near South Avenue and Western Reserve Road and near South Avenue and Boardman-Poland Road, said an official with the Mahoning County Health Department.

Officials from the local unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services offices ran preliminary tests on the raccoons that indicated they were positive for rabies. The specimens were then sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for variant typing. Confirmation of the preliminary reports is still pending.

Although there were no known exposures to animals or humans in this case, residents should be vigilant and not interact with or feed wildlife, said Mary Helen Smith, director of environmental health for the county health department.