Raccoon infected with rabies killed

Health officials are looking for the two unidentified bicycle riders who initially spotted the animal acting strangely near Slater Court.

By: Charlie Olsen
   Health officers are hoping to find two unidentified bicycle riders who reported a raccoon acting strangely that turned out to be rabid.
   The bicyclists observed a raccoon lying on the side of the road near Slater Court, hissing and scratching its face at 5:30 p.m. on May 3. They riders notified a nearby resident, who contacted the police who shot the animal. The raccoon was tested for rabies May 3 and the results came back positive.
   Siobhan Spano, deputy health officer, said that although the two riders who came across the raccoon probably didn’t touch the rabid animal, they should contact the Health Department at 369-5652.
   "I think that these bikers probably didn’t have contact, but it would be nice to hear that from them," Ms. Spano said.
   The disease is transmitted by the saliva of the infected animal and can be passed either through a bite or a scratch, or contact of infected saliva with an open cut or mucous membrane.
   Humans infected with the disease may not show symptoms for two to 12 weeks after being infected. Symptoms include headaches, irritability and fever, which can progress to convulsions, paralysis and death if not treated.
   Only 27 people in the United States were confirmed to have contracted the disease since 1990, however, 16,000 to 39,000 receive preventative treatment each year after coming into contact with infected animals, according to the Web site, emedicienhealth.com.
   According to Ms. Spano, rabies is a disease that’s always present in the wildlife population.
   "If we think there might have been contact, we do test it," said Ms. Spano. "We tell the neighbors … we brought a notice around to them."
   Rabies is a continuing problem in the state of New Jersey, especially because of feral cats, she said.
   To avoid risk of contracting rabies, a disease that cannot be treated unless it’s found early, stay away from stray cats because they "may not have the classic symptoms of ferocious rabies, they might have dumb rabies which leads to very friendly behavior."
   The best way to deal with a stray cat is to call the animal control officers, who will handle the animal and have it examined by a veterinarian. In Hillsborough, animal control is contracted with St. Hubert’s Giralda and can be reached at 526-3330.
   Other ways to avoid contact with the disease include keeping pets and their food inside, keeping garbage can lids secure, and avoiding feeding wildlife.