A raccoon in the Westminster area has tested positive for rabies, the Carroll County Health Department said in an Aug. 21 press release.
Animal Control was called to the Meadow Creek apartments off Royer Road on the morning of Aug. 17 for an aggressive raccoon that had come out of the woods near a small play area at the end of the parking lot, according to the health department. The raccoon was captured and euthanized, and it later tested positive for rabies.
The health department said it is concerned that other pets or people in the area may have been exposed to the infected raccoon before its death.
"Rabies exposure occurs through bites and scratches or saliva from the infected animal getting into the eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound of a person or another animal," said Joe Mancuso, rabies program manager at the health department.
Anyone who may have been exposed, or whose pet may have been exposed, to bites, scratches, or saliva from this raccoon can call the health department at 410-876-1884 for a risk assessment, according to the department.
Meadow Creek Apartments sits off Royer Road near Md. 140 in Westminster, where Animal Control captured an aggressive raccoon on Aug. 17 that later tested positive for rabies. (Google Maps)
Rabies is most often found in raccoons, cats, skunks, foxes, groundhogs, and bats in Maryland, the health department said, though it can occasionally appear in other animals, including dogs, ferrets, deer, and cows and other farm animals.
"Observe wildlife and animals you don't know from a distance, and keep your pets vaccinated," Mancuso said. "If you see a sick or wounded animal, or one that is acting strangely, call Animal Control at 410-848-4810."
The health department recommends the following precautions to protect against rabies:
Do not approach, handle, pet, or feed wild or stray animals.
Have dogs, cats, and ferrets vaccinated against rabies and keep their vaccinations up to date.
Do not leave pets outside unattended or allow them to roam free.
Cover garbage cans tightly and do not leave pet food outside.
Teach children to stay away from wild animals and any animals they do not know.
Prevent bats from entering the home by using window screens and chimney caps; bats found inside a home should be safely collected, if possible, and tested for rabies.
Anyone bitten or scratched by a wild or stray animal, or whose pet is bitten or scratched, should wash the area with soap and water for several minutes, keep the pet away from other people and animals, and then contact a physician or veterinarian and the health department at 410-876-1884.
The health department's next low-cost rabies vaccination clinic for dogs, cats, and ferrets is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Ag Center in Westminster. Registration is available on the health department's rabies page.
More information on rabies is available from the Maryland Department of Health. The Carroll County Health Department's website is at health.maryland.gov/carroll.