Rabid Raccoon Found In PG County Prompts Health Alert

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD — A sick raccoon found in Prince George’s County last week tested positive for rabies, prompting officials to issue an alert asking residents who may have come in contact with the animal to reach out to the Prince George’s County Health Department.

The raccoon was captured on April 11 in the 5200 block of Iroquois Street in College Park, according to county health officials. Confirmation the animal had rabies came five days later, the report said.

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Anyone who may have come in contact with the animal should contact the county health department at 301-583-3750 or 240-508-5774 after 4:30 p.m. on holidays or weekends.

Rabies is transmitted when a person is bitten or scratched by an infected animal, according to the county health department. When a person is bitten or exposed, rabies is prevented by administering four doses of the rabies vaccine over 14 days, with a dose of rabies.

In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Each year, approximately 900 Marylanders receive treatment after exposure to a rabid or potentially rabid animal.

“The best way to prevent exposure to rabies is to avoid contact with unfamiliar animals and ensure household pets are vaccinated for rabies,” county health officer Dr. Matthew Levy said in a statement. “Community members should report unusual animal behavior and avoid handling or feeding unknown animals in their community.”

To prevent exposure to rabies:

• Do not approach, handle, or feed stray dogs and cats, and enforce and follow leash laws.
• Teach your children to stay away from wild animals and animals they do not know.
• Vaccinate dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies and keep the vaccinations up to date.
• Do not leave pets outside unattended or allow them to roam free.
• Cover garbage cans tightly and do not leave pet food outside — this may attract wild and stray animals.
• Wear gloves when handling an animal that has been in a fight with another animal. Keep it away from people and other animals and call your veterinarian or local health department to report the animal exposure.
• Use window screens and chimney caps and close any openings greater than a quarter-inch by a half-inch to prevent bats from entering your home.

If bitten or scratched by an infected animal, health officials recommend taking the following steps:

• If it is a wild animal, try to trap it if you can do so safely. If the animal must be killed, try not to damage the head.
• If it is an owned animal, get the animal owner’s name, address, and telephone number.
• Report exposures to your local animal control agency, health department, or police.
• Immediately wash the wound well with soap and water; if available, use a disinfectant to flush the wound.
• Get prompt medical attention.
• Consider treatment if a bat was present and exposure cannot be reasonably ruled out (e.g., a sleeping person awakens to find a bat in the room, or an adult sees a bat in the room with an unattended child, a person with an intellectual disability, or an intoxicated person

Learn more about rabies in Maryland online.