Rabid Raccoon Confirmed In Camden County; Dog Possibly Exposed

VOORHEES, NJ — A sick raccoon discovered in Camden County has tested positive for rabies, officials said Wednesday.

The raccoon was found June 30 in a Voorhees resident's yard. The township's animal-control officer removed the animal, which was subsequently submitted for rabies testing. There have been no known human exposures to the raccoon, but the resident's dog may have been exposed, according to Camden County officials.

The state Public Health & Environmental Laboratories conducted tests in Trenton. State officials told the Camden County Health Department this week that the raccoon was rabid.

Fatal raccoon bites to humans are rare. The CDC only knows of one person in the United States who has died from the raccoon strain of rabies. 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 Camden County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the county health department. "If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention."

Betteridge urged pet owners and other county residents to observe a few guidelines:

• 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 never to 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. Tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year in these countries.

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