Rabid Raccoon Captured in Camden, New Jersey

A rabid raccoon has been discovered in a Camden, New Jersey, home, and the Camden County Health Department is warning residents of possible infection.

No human or animal exposure has been confirmed, but Camden County officials recommend people keep an eye out for any symptoms to get early treatment.

“If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, it is important that you seek medical attention immediately,” said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Camden County Health Department.

Betteridge encourages residents to take care of their pets. Here are some recommendations:

1. Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats and ferrets.
2. Keep your pets under direct supervision so that they do not come into contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary help immediately.
3. Contact your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may not be vaccinated and may be infected with disease.

It is also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

1. Observe wildlife such as raccoons, skunks and foxes from a distance. Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wildlife with open trash cans or garbage.
2. Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not attempt to care for sick animals. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
3. Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they seem friendly.
4. Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they could come into contact with people or pets.
5. When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful with dogs in developing countries. Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Tens of thousands of people die from rabies each year in these countries.

If you are a resident of Camden County and need information on how to treat rabies or rabid animals, you can call the Camden County Health Department at (856) 374-6370.

For more information on rabies, visit www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/.