Most of the reported cases were in wild animals, the highest being the raccoons with 359 cases, skunks were second with 185 and foxes with 90. Also included were 36 cases of rabies in cats and five in dogs.
Health officials say that rabies carriers were stray animals, unvaccinated pet and many were not properly vaccinated.
This week is Rabies Awareness Week and people are advised to have their pets vaccinated.
According to Virginia Department of Health, the law requires all dogs and cats over the age of four months to be vaccinated against rabies.
Rabies is a viral disease which infects domestic and wild animals. It is transmitted to other animals and humans through close contact with saliva from infected animals by bites, scratches, licks on broken skin and mucous membranes. When symptoms of the disease starts, rabies is fatal to both animals and humans.
