Public health officials warn deer hunters to take extra precautions after another animal in Delaware tests positive for rabies.
This time it’s a white-tailed deer in Rehoboth. Residents near Kings Creek Circle and Road 273 should contact their health care provider or the Division of Public Health Rabies Program if they think they may have been bitten or scratched, or came into physical contact with it.
Public health announced a fox in Greenwood tested positive for rabies earlier this week.
Delaware’s deer hunting season started Sept. 1.
Officials say rabies in white-tailed deer is rare—but warn hunters to not consume any deer that was acting abnormal or appeared sick when harvested.
When field dressing deer, hunters should always wear latex or rubber gloves, minimize handling deer brain and spinal cord, keep pets away from the area, and wash hands and tools.
Hunters who have their deer commercially processed should request it is processed individually— and should properly cook venison.
So far this year, the Division of Public Health says 11 animals have tested positive. That’s more than double the number that tested positive all of last year.
