Rabies A Growing Problem

More wildlife found to have the virus

Cases of rabies have been on the rise across Maryland this past year. A local woman was bitten by a rabid raccoon after the animal got into her home and caught her off guard. Officials have warned residents to be vigilant but also have stressed the fact that a bite or scratch from an infected animal is not an emergency. Rather, it is an urgent matter that must be dealt with, but treatment can begin days after exposure.

If left completely untreated, the virus can be fatal in both humans and pets. Some of the symptoms of the rabies virus include aggressive behavior, drooling, foaming at the mouth, disorientation or difficulty walking, convulsions and an inability to eat or drink anything.

To learn more about raccoons and the diseases they carry, check out On The Fly Pest Solutions.

Rabid raccoon attacks woman

Tucked at the north end of Main Street in Sykesville near Wilson Avenue, news of the attack has caught residents off guard.

"A rabid raccoon had gone inside someone's house and bit them," said Rose Werden.

Joe Mancuso of the Carroll County Health Department says the animal displayed abnormally aggressive behavior

"It kind of broke into the person's house,” said Mancuso. “I'm not exactly sure the mechanism how it got in there---maybe a doggy door or what have you. It could have broken through a screen, but the person who lived in there heard her dogs kind of yelping and barking, and sure enough, there's a crazy raccoon, and she got between them and got bitten." Read more

Summary: A local woman was caught off guard and bitten by a rabid raccoon after it broke into her home. Although an urgent matter that must be dealt with accordingly, rabies is not an emergency and treatment can begin up to a few days after exposure.

5 Raccoons Recently Identified as Rabid in Maryland

Anne Arundel and Carroll County health officials are warning the public about five raccoons that tested positive for rabies within the last few weeks.

The Anne Arundel County raccoon was found in the area of Ogleton Road and Queen Anne Circle on October 30, according to the Health Department's official alert. Anyone who may have encountered the animal around this time should be on the lookout for possible signs of rabies in themselves and their pets, especially if they have any unexplained wounds or scratches. Read more

Summary: A number of raccoons in Maryland have been tested recently and found to be infected with the rabies virus. Officials have been urging people to remain vigilant and watch out for any signs and symptoms of rabies if they've had an encounter with wildlife.

 

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