PORT TOWNSEND — A dead coyote that was mistakenly characterized as rabid will undergo tests for the disease, even though it had no reported contact with humans and the possibility of a positive result is slim.
“It would be very significant for the animal to test positive because it would be the first reported incident of rabies in this species” in the area, said Dr. Tom Locke, Jefferson County public health officer.
“We don’t usually test for rabies if there’s been no human contact,” he said.
“The lab doesn’t have the resources to test every dead animal.”
The Port Townsend Police Department corrected a Thursday afternoon a news release sent earlier that day that erroneously said an injured coyote found near Fort Worden State Park on Nov. 8 had tested positive for rabies.
The initial release said a state wildlife officer transported the animal to Center Valley Animal Rescue in Quilcene, where it tested positive for the virus, a statement that was erroneous.
The second release said: “At this time, the coyote has not been tested for rabies. The cause of the animal’s illness has not been determined.”
Sara Penhallegon, who saw the coyote at the animal rescue, said: “My first guess when they brought the animal in is that it was a toxic reaction, which can look the same as rabies.”
She euthanized the animal and sent the remains to the Chimacum Valley Animal Hospital for possible analysis.
On Thursday, the body remained in the clinic’s freezer and had not been tested.
Locke, who was not aware of the animal until after the news release, contacted the clinic, the police and the Washington State Board of Health, which decided to conduct a test even though the likelihood of rabies is low.
The animal’s head will be sent to the Washington State Public Health lab in Shoreline for precautionary testing today, with results available early next week, Locke said.
Locke, who met with Port Townsend Police Sgt. Troy Surber on Thursday, said the confusion probably resulted from investigators asking police if anyone had been exposed to the animal’s saliva or blood.
“They may have thought that questions about exposure meant the animal tested positive, but that’s not how we operate,” Locke said.
“We will only test for rabies if there is documentation that the sick animal had contact with humans.”
Locke said the officers who handled the animal “were professionals” and took precautions that prevented dangerous exposure.
Locke said the erroneous report came from a “communication glitch,” a characterization with which Surber agreed.
In its corrected report Thursday afternoon, the police department said: “Currently bats are the only wild animal in the state of Washington that are shown to carry rabies. Animals and humans can contract rabies if exposed to an infected bat.”
On Nov. 7, a domestic cat from the Chimacum area was found to have been rabid.
That animal was diagnosed as having rabies by Penhallegon at Chimacum Valley Veterinary Hospital, a diagnosis confirmed after it was euthanized and tested at the Jefferson County Humane Society.
Penhallegon dealt with the animal because she was the only staff member with a current rabies vaccine status. After that exposure, she received a booster shot, she said.
Rabies in humans is fatal unless it is treated immediately, Locke said.
To test for rabies, an animal is euthanized and its head sent to a lab.
Locke said the erroneous report was actually a positive thing.
“I’m glad this happened because it spread knowledge about rabies to the public and underscored that people should avoid any direct contact with wildlife,” he said.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
