A horse in Fultonville has tested positive for rabies, according to Montgomery County health officials. Laboratory findings showed the animal carried a raccoon strain of the virus, a result the county said fits with how rabies is commonly spread in the region.
The case is also creating a financial burden for Montgomery County. Based on the report, the county is spending thousands of dollars on life-saving rabies vaccines tied to possible exposure linked to the infected horse.
Rabies is a serious viral disease that can spread from infected animals to people and other animals. Once exposure is suspected, health departments often move quickly to determine who may need post-exposure treatment, which can be costly but is critical for prevention.
The Fultonville case highlights the continued risk rabies poses in upstate New York, especially when wildlife strains reach domestic animals. County health officials are continuing to address the situation as they manage both the public health response and the vaccine costs connected to the case.
