LEBANON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — The Hunterdon County Health Department has issued a public health alert after a raccoon found in Lebanon Township tested positive for rabies.
The raccoon, which was located in the area of Anthony Road, tested positive for rabies on May 19, according to health officials.
Residents who may have had contact with the raccoon between May 1 and May 15 are urged to immediately contact their primary care physician or visit the Hunterdon Medical Center Emergency Room to evaluate the need for post-exposure prophylaxis treatment.
“Saliva from infected animals should be considered infectious,” health officials said, adding that residents should avoid picking up stray animals at any time.
Rabies is a deadly virus transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite or when saliva comes into contact with an open wound or mucous membranes such as the eyes. It can be transmitted from animals to humans and from animal to animal. Left untreated, rabies is nearly always fatal, but prompt medical treatment following exposure can prevent the disease from developing.
To reduce the risk of rabies, health officials advise the following:
- Vaccinate pets and keep rabies vaccinations current.
- Avoid feeding or touching wild animals.
- Do not have contact with stray animals or pets that are not your own.
Pet owners should have their cats, dogs and livestock vaccinated by a veterinarian or at municipal rabies clinics. A list of upcoming free rabies clinics is available online.
For more information, contact the Hunterdon County Division of Public Health Services at 908-788-1351. For after-hours or weekend inquiries, call 908-788-1202. To reach Lebanon Township Animal Control Officer Robbie Lagonera of Community Animal Control, call 908-763-5035.
