A groundhog recently retrieved from a farm on Railroad Boulevard has been confirmed positive for rabies, health officials reported middle of this week.
A report from The Press of Atlantic City specified that this is the ninth rabies case in Atlantic County this year. According to health officials, at least one person, a farm worker, is believed to have been exposed to the potentially fatal disease.
— Press of AC (@ThePressofAC) June 9, 2022
The said animal from the township was taken from the premises by animal control and sent to a state lab, where it tested positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, health officials reported that the farm worker was instructed to consult their health care provider about the treatment. A pig, on the other hand, has also been isolated and will stay quarantined for six months, the health department also said.
The viral disease is believed to be commonly spread through direct contact with saliva through broken skin or the mucous membranes of the eyes and was previously detected in Atlantic County in four skunks, one of which tested positive a week ago, two raccoons, one fox, and one cat.
Most cases in humans originate from an infected animal's bite. Regardless of whether that particular animal is suspected of having rabies, any individual bitten by a wild animal is advised to wash their wound immediately and consult a doctor. Health officials have also urged county pet owners to keep up to date on the vaccines of their animals.
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The Atlantic County health officials confirmed the 9th case of rabies there after a groundhog tested positive for the virus.
Rabies
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes rabies as a "fatal yet preventable viral disease." It can spread to both humans and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal.
In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals such as raccoons, bats, foxes, and skunks, as earlier mentioned.
Nonetheless, in many other countries, dogs still carry rabies, and dog bites cause most deaths from rabies among humans worldwide.
Essentially, the rabies virus infects the central nervous system. If an individual does not receive the proper medical care following potential exposure to rabies, the virus can cause disease in the brain, ultimately leading to death.
Furthermore, a similar Breaking AC report said that this disease could be avoided by vaccinating animals, staying distant from wildlife, and seeking medical care following possible exposures before the onset of symptoms.
Vaccine Against Rabies
PEP or Postexposure prophylaxis contains a dose of HRIG or human rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine given exactly on the day of exposure to rabies, and then another dose of vaccine, given again on the third, seventh, and 14th day.
For individuals who have never been vaccinated against rabies before, PEP must always include administering both the rabies vaccine and HRIG.
The vaccine and HRIG's combination is recommended for both bite and non-bite exposures, regardless of the interval between exposure and initiation of therapy.
The same with pets; CDC also said that keeping pets up to date on their rabies vaccination will prevent them from contracting the disease from wildlife and thereby avert potential transmission to humans.
Related information about groundhogs that tested positive for rabies is shown on WMAR-2 News's YouTube video below:
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