In 2018, wild animals accounted for 92.7% of reported cases of rabies. The CDC reports that bats were among the first on the list having 33% of all animal cases, followed by raccoons with 30.3%, then skunks at 20.3%, and foxes at 7.2%.
Rabies is adapted to its host and different variants exist in the US. These are the raccoon variant, bat variant, fox variant, and skunk variant. Cross-species transmission of rabies may also occur, such as when dogs get infected with the raccoon variant.
Raccoon in Raritan Township Tested Positive for Rabies
Local news outlet Tap Into Flemington/Raritan reported that a raccoon tested positive for rabies was reported in Raritan Township based on the notice from the Raritan Township Office of Emergency Management.
It was reported in the area of Plennert Road on Wednesday, June 23. Officials advised the residents who may have had contact with the raccoon any time between June 6 and June 20 to immediately notify their primary care physician or the Hunterdon Medical Center Emergency Room to discuss possible exposure and to get post-exposure prophylaxis treatment.
The area's OEM reminds the public to be careful not to pick stray animals at any time to avoid getting in contact with the saliva of animals that are infectious or may contain rabies.
Moreover, pet owners, as well as livestock, should have the anti-rabies vaccine from a veterinarian or municipal rabies clinics. Information about rabies in raccoons is available at the Hunterdon County Department of Health Info Line website.
How to Know if a Raccoon is Rabid
Raccoons along with foxes, skunks, and bats are considered a primary carrier of rabies in America. Although many warm-blooded animals may also carry rabies, the Humane Society of the United States reported that the mentioned animals were the rabies vector species.
So far, the CDC has only recorded one human death from the raccoon variant of rabies. According to the report, a rabid raccoon is usually dead within 1-3 days after becoming infectious. Those people who get bitten could get post-exposure treatment.
The key indicator that a raccoon may be rapid is that when it is staggering to walk, oblivious to noise nearby, has erratic wandering behavior, a discharge from eyes or mouth, wet and matted hair on the face, repeated high-pitch voice, and self-mutilation.
Raccoons showing these symptoms just immediately be reported to the police department.
America's Effort Against Rabies Threats
Most people may not know it but the US government has been distributing oral rabies vaccines targeted at raccoons since 1997, the National Geographic reported.
This is part of the massive public and animal health initiative called the National Rabies Management Program, the largest coordinated effort to control disease in wildlife undertaken in the US.
The prevention is estimated to cost $28 million, which is way cheaper than the $60 million needed for public health investigation, rabies tests, and access to post-exposure vaccines for humans. The fewer wild animals got rabies, the fewer people, pets, and livestock come into contact with the disease.
RELATED ARTICLE: Rabid Bat Discovered in Olbrich Park: Second in Dane County, Fourth in Wisconsin to Test Positive for Rabies
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