ANNAPOLIS, Md. — After discovering a rabid raccoon in Annapolis, the Anne Arundel County Department of Health is asking anyone who may have come in contact with the animal to call the agency to seek potential treatment.
The raccoon was found on March 13, and after testing it was shown to have rabies, the department said. It had been seen in the area of the intersection of Madison Street and President Street in the city’s Eastport Community. If anyone or their pets had contact with the animal, or if a pet now has a new, unexplained wound, contact the health department at 410-222-7256 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or at 443-481-3140 after business hours.
Rabies is a disease that can make animals act unpredictable and violent. It is spread through a bite or scratch from an infected animal, or if the saliva of an infected animal comes in contact with the eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound of a person or other animal, the health department said.
Rabies is a fatal disease, but it can be prevented with a series of injections that must be taken as soon as possible. Residents are reminded not to feed wild or stray animals, and to make sure their pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations. More information about the disease can be found online.
