
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) A health official says rabies activity in Virginia continues to be high.
West Piedmont Health District Director Dr. Gordon Green says 327 cases of animal rabies have been confirmed across the state so far this year, compared to 566 in all of 2009 and 620 in all of 2008.
In the West Piedmont district, seven animal rabies cases have been confirmed this year. Green says 29 people in the district have been exposed to rabies.
Rabies is a potentially lethal disease that attacks the nervous system. It is spread mainly by saliva from infected animals that enters the body through bites or through the mouth or eyes.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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