Rabid Raccoon Confirmed In Camden County, Officials Say

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ — A raccoon killed by two dogs in a residential backyard tested positive for rabies, according to Camden County health officials.

The dogs received a rabies booster shot and will be under confinement and observation for 45 days, said the county health department. Officials said the two dogs killed the raccoon on Nov. 17 in Gloucester City. No humans were exposed to the raccoon, to health officials' knowledge.

An animal control officer arranged for rabies testing at the state Public Health and Environmental Laboratories in Trenton, said Camden County officials.

Camden County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services, reminded residents rabies is a serious illness but can be treated.

"If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention," Betteridge said.

The health department also reported a stray cat tested positive for rabies in Lindenwold on Tuesday.

Betteridge and the county health department said they urge residents to act responsibly as a pet owner by keeping vaccinations up to date and making sure pets do not come in contact with wild or unfamiliar animals.

The county issued the following guidelines for pet owners:

1. Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Also, Betteridge and health officials ask residents not to handle, feed, or or attract wild animals like raccoons, skunks, and foxes.