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Rabid horse costing Montgomery County thousands of dollars in life-saving vaccines
WRGB • • health
Key Points:
- A horse in Fultonville tested positive for the raccoon strain of rabies, marking the first rabid horse case in Montgomery County in a decade, according to Health Director Sara Boerenko.
- Five people exposed to the rabid horse are receiving treatment, with costs estimated between $15,000 and $20,000, which will be covered by the county's general funds.
- Other animals on the farm, including two horses, are under quarantine to monitor for rabies symptoms, while 54 animals have been tested for rabies in Montgomery County this year.
- Pre-exposure rabies vaccines are available for both animals and humans, costing significantly less than post-exposure treatments, with horse vaccinations priced at $300-$400 annually and human vaccines around $850.
