Rabid Racoon Found In Far Hills

FAR HILLS, NJ — A raccoon found in the Borough of Far Hills near the Spring Hollow Road area has tested positive for rabies, the Somerset County Department of Health reported Friday.

This is the second raccoon that has tested positive for rabies in the borough this year.

The raccoon reportedly made contact with a resident and her four dogs when it got into their fenced-in property on Oct. 6.

The raccoon was then captured by Animal Control Solutions and taken to the public health laboratory at the New Jersey Department of Health where the raccoon tested positive for rabies.

The dogs were up-to-date with their rabies vaccinations, and were subsequently given booster shots. As required by law, the dogs are being quarantined for 45 days. As a precaution, the owner received a post-exposure rabies vaccination from her physician, according to the release.

Residents who see an animal acting strangely should avoid the animal and immediately call their local police department or health department.

“If you are bitten or attacked by an animal, do not delay in reporting it to the health authorities,” said Somerset County Health Officer Dr. Paul Masaba. “Rabies is a serious illness that without treatment can be fatal in humans.”

People can get rabies through animal bites or when the saliva of an infected animal enters the body through cuts or scratches. However, rabies is preventable with prompt medical attention.

Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by a wild or stray animal – including stray dogs and cats – should promptly wash the area that has been affected with soap and water and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If your pet has been bitten or scratched, take your pet to the vet promptly. Immediately report any incident of animal bites to the police and the local health department. For contact information for local health departments in Somerset County visit http://bit.ly/MunicHealth.

According to the New Jersey State Department of Health, in 2018 from Jan. 1 to June 30, 49 raccoons tested positive for rabies in the state, including three cases in Somerset County. Suburban areas where raccoons, people and pets are in close proximity often have the highest number of cases.

The best protection against rabies is for pet owners to make sure that their pets get rabies vaccinations on a regular basis and their vaccinations are current. A list of rabies clinics located around Somerset County can be found at http://bit.ly/HealthCalendar.

For more information about rabies, visit the New Jersey Department of Health website at http://bit.ly/RabiesFAQ.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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