DHEC confirms rabid raccoon in Richland County

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has confirmed that a rabid raccoon was found in Columbia.

The raccoon was found near Irongate and Woodgate drives and tested positive for rabies.

DHEC says no people or pets are known to have been exposed to the raccoon.

The raccoon was submitted to DHEC’s laboratory for testing on Dec. 7, and was confirmed to have rabies on Dec. 8.

Anyone who believes they might have come in contact with the raccoon is asked to call DHEC’s Public Health Columbia office at 803-896-0620.

“To reduce the risk of getting rabies, always give wild and stray animals plenty of space,” said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program director.

DHEC says the raccoon is the fifth animal in Richland County to test positive for rabies in 2023 and there have been 77 cases of rabid animals statewide this year.

In 2022, five of the 83 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina were in Richland County.