Residents are advised to contact the Burlington County Health Department if they come in contact with an animal with rabies.
A wild raccoon that was submitted for rabies testing on July 18 has tested positive for rabies. The raccoon was captured in a residential property in Moorestown Township Burlington County. The Health Department is concerned that other wild and stray animals may have come into contact with the raccoon.
To date, the Burlington County Health Department has determined that there has been one person and potentially several animals exposed to this animal. The exposed person has already started their treatment and is following up with treatment for their pets.
The Health Department is asking for your cooperation in this matter.
1. If you have been scratched or bitten by a raccoon in your neighborhood in the last two weeks, please contact them immediately.
2. Check the status of your pets’ rabies vaccine. Have your pet receive a rabies booster if it spends time outdoors, outside of your supervision and has not received its latest rabies shot within the last 3 months.
3. Do not feed any wild or stray animals in the neighborhood. Avoid all wild animals — especially bats, skunks, foxes, cats and raccoons.
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the brain. The rabies virus lives in the saliva (spit) of infected animals and is spread from a bite or when saliva from an infected animal touches broken skin, open wounds or the lining of the mouth, nose or eyes. Rabies in certain animals — especially wildlife — is common in New Jersey.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Daisha Pierce at (609) 265–5073. For additional information, on rabies see: http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.
