PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY - Raccoon tests positive for rabies
Ware — The Ware Board of Health is issuing an advisory to people who may have come in physical contact with raccoons. A raccoon in Grenville Park, which bit a man, has tested positive for rabies. Officials are concerned about possible rabies exposure and are seeking to educate and inform the public.
Rabies is most common in raccoons, skunks, cats, foxes, bats and woodchucks. Rabid animals can spread the rabies virus to humans through a bite, scratch or introduction of the infected animal’s saliva into a person’s eyes, nose, mouth, or fresh, open cut.
There are no human cases of the disease in Massachusetts. The last case of human rabies contracted in Massachusetts occurred in 1934.
Health officials are reminding the public to protect themselves and their pets from rabies by following these simple steps:
1. Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies and that their shots are up-to-date. By law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies. Pets are the bridge between rabies in the animal population and rabies in the human population. It is important that residents vaccinate their pets to protect family members from this deadly disease
2. Avoid wild animals, especially bats, skunks, foxes and raccoons. Do not feed or pet strays. Avoid any animal—wild, farm or pet—that you do not know. Report any animal that behaves oddly to your local animal control official.
3. Teach children to avoid wildlife, strays and all other animals they do not know well.
4. Do not handle dead, sick, or injured wild animals yourself; call the police or animal control officer. If you must handle the animal, use heavy gloves, sticks or other tools to avoid direct contact.
5. Feed pets indoors and keep them indoors at night. If they are outside during the day, keep them on a leash or fenced in so they cannot wander. Although rare, it is possible for vaccinated pets to get rabies. Pets allowed to roam freely are more likely to get rabies and possibly expose people and other pets in your home.
6. Fasten trash can lids tightly. Garbage attracts animals (like skunks, raccoons and strays) looking for an easy meal.
For more information on rabies, please visit the Department of Public Health website at http://www.mass.gov/dph/ or call the Board of Health at 413-967-9615
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