PA Parkgoer Bitten By Rabid Raccoon While Hiking

BUSHKILL, PA — A visitor to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area was bitten by a rabid raccoon while hiking on a trail, the National Park Service confirmed Thursday.

The hiker was on the McDade Recreational Trail between Bushkill Access and the Valley View Campground on March 14 when they received the bite, officials said. The raccoon later tested positive for rabies, a deadly virus that affects all mammals including humans.

Rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes in the United States. However, in many other countries dogs still carry rabies, and most rabies deaths in people around the world are caused by dog bites, according to park officials.

The virus attacks the central nervous system through the bite or scratch of an infected animal and is nearly always fatal after symptoms appear. However, rabies postexposure prophylaxis in humans is highly effective if treatment is given after exposure to the virus and before symptoms appear.

Symptoms of rabies in animals can include aggressive behavior for no apparent reason — for example, if it is not protecting young, food sources, or territory — and confusion, the National Park Service noted. Rabies symptoms in humans may start as soon as days or weeks after a bite or as many as months or even years, and often mimic other illnesses at the beginning.

"The first symptoms of rabies may be similar to the flu, including weakness or discomfort, fever, or headache," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "There also may be discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. These symptoms may last for days."

The disease can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start, according to officials.

"If you see sick or dead wildlife, do not approach or touch it," the National Park Service said. "Note the location and notify a park employee or call the park’s 24-hour emergency communications center at (570) 426-2457."

Officials added that pets should be up to date on vaccinations and always kept on a leash, and that visitors should notify park staff if contact with wildlife occurs or is suspected.

"Anyone who may have had contact with or was bitten or attacked by a wild animal in the park is asked to call the number above to report the incident," officials said. "Visitors are reminded to observe and appreciate wildlife from a distance."

Park officials are unsure if any other wildlife in the park has been infected with rabies.

"Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is working with National Park Service Office of Public Health and Wildlife Health Branch to protect the health and safety of visitors and wildlife in the park by testing any sick or dead wildlife and notifying the public when rabies is detected in the park," they added.