Rabies Cases In Maine So Far for 2021

Rabies is a viral disease that Maine and many other parts of the country see in wildlife such as skunks, raccoons, species of foxes and bats. It is a viral disease that affects the brain and spinal cord and passes through saliva or rabid animals.

In 2020, there were 71 total cases, mostly found in Southern and Western Counties of the State of Maine and including mainly raccoons and grey fox cases. By this time in 2020, 28 cases had been identified. 2019 had 89 total cases and 2018 had 76 total cases.

This year, less cases have been identified so far.  The State of Maine has identified 15 total cases of rabies statewide.  Most cases involved racoons and grey fox and most were found in the Western and Southern most counties in the State with two cases found in Penobscot and Washington counties.

Maine cases so far in 2021

Cumberland County has seen 6 cases since the start of the year with a variety of animals carrying rabies, including grey fox, raccoons and a skunk.

Oxford County has seen two cases since the start of the year which included a bat and a raccoon.

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Sagadahoc County has seen three cases since the beginning of the year in the towns of Phippsburg and Topsham.  All three cases involved grey fox.

Penobscot and Washington Counties have only seen one case of rabies in each county. In the Penobscot County town of Corinna, rabies was carried by a skunk and in the Washington County town of Steuben, rabies was carried by a raccoon.

York County also had one rabies case in Waterboro with a rabies case of a raccoon identified in April.

Here's a breakdown of where rabies cases have been found so far in Maine in 2021, including dates, towns, counties and the species identified with the rabies

January

4th: Falmouth, Cumberland County, raccoon

8th: Raymond, Cumberland County, racoon

22nd: Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County, grey fox

February

1st: Oxford, Oxford County, bat

4th: Corinna, Penobscot County, skunk

17th: Bridgton, Cumberland County, skunk

17th: Steuben, Washington County, Steuben, raccoon

March

8th: Windham, Cumberland County, grey fox

19th: Yarmouth, Cumberland County, racoon

23rd: Freeport, Cumberland County, raccoon

26th: Albany TWP, Oxford County, raccoon

April

4th: Topsham, Sagadahoc County, grey fox

9th: Waterboro, York County, raccoon

20th: Topsham, Sagadahoc County, grey fox

Keep track of Maine's rabies cases by visiting the Maine.gov website maintained by the Division of Public Health Systems 'Maine Animal Rabies 2021'

For more information on rabies, visit the maine.gov webpage dedicated to rabies information.