A raccoon tested positive for rabies in Plainsboro last week. This is the fourth rabid animal reported within Middlesex County for 2008.
On May 4, a resident reported to the police department that a raccoon was acting aggressively. The resident was chased by the animal and took defensive action, subsequently killing it. A positive specimen result was reported by the state laboratory on May 7. One human exposure was reported and has been advised to seek medical attention for post-exposure prophylaxis. No other human or animal exposure has been reported at this time.
The Middlesex County Public Health Department continues to monitor rabies cases within the county. Residents should report wild animals showing signs of unusual behavior and have their pets receive their rabies vaccination. Residents should avoid contact with wild animals, immediately report any bites from any animals to the local health department, and consult a physician as soon as possible.
Rabies is caused by a virus that can infect all warm-blooded mammals, including man. The rabies virus is found in the saliva of a rabid animal and is transmitted by a bite, or possibly by contamination of an open cut. New Jersey is enzootic for raccoon and bat variants of rabies. Bats, raccoons, skunks, groundhogs, foxes, cats and dogs represent about 95 percent of animals diagnosed with rabies in the United States, according to health officials.