A raccoon in Providence's Hope Street area tested positive for rabies, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Oct. 23.

The department asks anyone who may have had direct contact with a raccoon in that area to call for an exposure assessment immediately. A nurse can determine whether treatment is needed.

The number is 401-222-2577 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Outside those hours, including the weekend, call 401-276-8046. People who think a pet may have had contact should also contact the local animal-control officer and the pet's veterinarian.

Rabies affects the central nervous system and can be fatal if treatment does not begin before symptoms develop. The department says treatment should start as soon as possible after an exposure. Being near the area is different from having direct contact; the state's nurses assess the circumstances of a possible exposure.

Rhode Island had identified 43 rabid animals in 2026 as of the announcement, compared with an annual average of 25 during 2021 through 2025. Those figures count animals, not human cases.

The state requires current rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets. Health officials advise residents to avoid feeding or touching wildlife and free-roaming animals, keep pets under control, cover garbage cans and report animal bites to local animal control.