LEBANON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — The Hunterdon County Health Department has issued a public health alert after an adult raccoon found in Lebanon Township tested positive for rabies.
The raccoon, which was located in the area of Hollow Brook Road and Teetertown Road, tested positive for rabies on November 10, according to health officials.
Residents who may have had contact with the raccoon between October 18 and November 1 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.
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 908-763-5036.
