A raccoon in the Town of West Turin has tested positive for rabies, Lewis County Public Health announced, after the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Laboratory flagged the sample. Officials say there was no human or pet exposure to the animal, but the case is renewing calls for Lewis County residents and visitors to stay cautious around wildlife and keep their animals' shots current.
The county's public health department was notified directly by the Wadsworth Laboratory, according to informnny.com, which reported the positive test. The outlet's report also notes there was no human or pet exposure to either raccoon, though it does not specify what the second animal referenced was or where it was found. Flack Broadcasting likewise reported on the West Turin case from Lowville.
What Rabies Does and How It Spreads
Rabies is described as a serious and deadly disease that affects the central nervous system, the station's report notes. It can pass from an infected animal to a person through saliva or nervous tissue entering the body via a bite or scratch — meaning casual sightings of wildlife generally pose no risk unless direct contact occurs.
Lewis County Public Health is advising people and their pets to avoid direct contact with wild animals, especially any behaving abnormally, per the same account. Officials are also urging residents to keep their pets' rabies vaccinations up to date, a precaution echoed more broadly by state health officials, who tell The Daily Gazette that New Yorkers should avoid contact with wild and stray animals, keep pets' vaccinations current, and seek medical care right away after a bite or possible exposure.
A Regional Pattern Among Wildlife
The West Turin case fits into a broader pattern seen across New York this year. Just days earlier, a raccoon in the Gouverneur area of neighboring St. Lawrence County also tested positive for rabies, according to WWNY, which reports that county has logged 25 rabies cases so far in 2026.
Statewide, raccoons remain the most prevalent carriers of rabies, followed by bats and skunks, The Daily Gazette reports, citing data that also shows hundreds of animals are tested for the disease each year in New York, though only a small share come back positive. That same data set found Albany County recorded the highest total of rabid animals over the past decade, with 146, while Warren County logged 22 cases between 2015 and 2025 and Hamilton County reported none in that span. The Wadsworth Center Rabies Laboratory, which has published open-access rabies surveillance data for more than a decade, collects these submission figures for all of New York State outside New York City, according to the New York State Department of Health.
Next Steps for Lewis County Pet Owners
For now, Lewis County's next scheduled rabies clinic will not take place until January 2027, leaving residents with several months before the county's next organized opportunity to vaccinate pets at a dedicated event. Anyone with questions about rabies or possible exposure in the meantime can call Lewis County Public Health at 315-376-5453.
