Politics & Government

Rabies Reported in Montgomery County

It is the first case of animal rabies reported in the county this year.

A raccoon found in Lower Merion Township has tested positive for rabies in the first case of animal rabies in Montgomery County this year.

The raccoon tested positive after a resident of the 200 block of Llanfair Road in Ardmore submitted it to the Department of Agriculture in Harrisburg, according to a release issued by Lower Merion Township Thursday afternoon.

“Anyone that has been bitten, scratched or had saliva exposure by any raccoon must receive treatment to prevent this fatal disease,” the release states.

If you, a family member or a pet have had any contact with a raccoon or any other stray or wild animal, call the Montgomery County Health Department, Division of Communicable Disease Control at 610-278-5117 immediately, the release states.

The majority of rabies cases reported occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system and can ultimately result in brain disease and death, according to the rabies page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Early symptoms of rabies are similar to those of other illnesses and include fever, headache and general weakness or discomfort, according to the CDC website. Symptoms worsen as the disease progresses and include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, an increase in saliva, difficulty swallowing and hydrophobia (fear of water).

Death typically occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms, the CDC website states.


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