Rabid Raccoon Confirmed In Gloucester Township

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A raccoon found in Gloucester Township tested positive for rabies, officials announced Tuesday.

A resident's dog killed the raccoon, according to the Camden County Health Department. The dog received a rabies booster shot and will be under confinement and observation for 45 days.

Officials haven't found any people or other animals potentially exposed to the raccoon.

Gloucester Township's animal control officer picked up the raccoon, which was submitted for rabies testing. This week, a state laboratory alerted county health officials that the creature was rabid.

Human deaths from rabies are rare in the United States, occurring only once or twice per year since 1960, according to the CDC. But rabies is fatal in more than 99 percent of cases, with no treatment once signs or symptoms emerge, so post-exposure treatment is vital for people and animals.

"Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment," said County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge. "If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention."

Betteridge, a liaison to the county health department, advised pet owners to do the following:

• Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats and ferrets.
• Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
• Contact your local animal-control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

It's also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals, Betteridge says:

• Enjoy wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes from afar. Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals — wild or domestic — even if they seem friendly.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people or pets.
• When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries. Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which have higher death tolls from the disease.

For more information about rabies, visit the CDC's webpage. Camden County residents can call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 856-374-6370.