Camden County Freeholders Recommend Caution Around Wild Animals in the Yard
For Immediate Release: October 28, 2009
Contacts: RON TOMASELLO

Within the last three months, there have been five confirmed cases of rabies in wild animals in Camden County. Raccoons in Barrington, Haddon Heights and Winslow Township have all tested positive for the disease.

Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services said rabies is only spread to humans through the bite of an infected animal or, much more rarely, through exposure to the saliva of that animal.

“It is a fatal disease. There has only been one recorded case of an unvaccinated individual recovering from rabies. Prompt medical attention after being bitten or exposed to a diseased animal prevents the onset of rabies. In prophylaxis a bitten or exposed individual receives a series of injections in the deltoid (shoulder) region at a prescribed set of intervals,” Rodriguez explained.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that residents store outdoor garbage in animal resistant containers to avoid attracting act wild animals. You should also not leave leftover pet food outdoors as it will attract raccoons. Secure all outbuildings, and cap chimneys, so they do not become areas for wild animals seeking to keep warm.

Rodriguez urged county residents protect themselves, their families, and their pets from rabies by observing a few simple rules, including acting responsibly as a pet owner:

• Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets.
• Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
• Contact your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

Rodriguez said it’s also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

• Enjoy wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes from afar. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or liter.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they seem friendly.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people or pets.
• When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries. Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year in these countries.

Rodriguez said interested residents can learn more about rabies through the internet by accessing the information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/ or, The New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services, Communicable Disease Service at www.state.nj.us/health/cd/f_rabies.htm . Residents may also call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 856-374-6370 or 856-374-6141.

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