Man Scratched; Raccoon with Rabies Found in Highland Park

Highland Park, NJ - A raccoon found in Highland Park has tested positive for rabies, the Middlesex County Office of Health Services said Tuesday morning. That raccoon was involved in an altercation with a house cat, which subsequently scratched its owner, and that person may receive rabies post-exposure treatment as well, the county health department said.

This is the 12th rabid animal reported in Middlesex County so far in 2016. Other recent cases include a family's pet pig that was attacked by a rabid groundhog in Old Bridge on June 29. Four people were exposed to rabies in that incident as well, and are being monitored for the virus. Also on June 29, two dogs got into a fight with a rabid raccoon in Spotswood. Read about that incident here.

Back to the Highland Park incident: On Saturday, July 2, a raccoon was found to be acting strangely in a resident’s yard near the owner’s pet cat. This was in the vicinity of Harrison Ave and Madison Ave. The cat became involved in an altercation with the raccoon, and subsequently the cat also scratched the owner.

The raccoon was killed and sent to the New Jersey Department of Health Laboratory for testing. It was reported on Thursday, July 7 that the animal tested positive for rabies. The cat at the residence is considered exposed to this animal and has been placed under a 45-day quarantine. The county notified the resident to consult with a physician regarding potential rabies post exposure treatment.

Highland Park residents should expect to see county health workers handing out rabies fact sheets in the area this week. There are the animals that most commonly carry rabies: Bats, raccoons, skunks, groundhogs, foxes, cats, and dogs.