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CUMMING, Ga. – Officials have confirmed that a raccoon captured in Cumming tested positive for rabies.
The raccoon was found in the area of Hickory Bluff Drive and was captured Thursday, according to Forsyth County officials.
Forsyth County Animal Services said a resident alerted them to the animal, prompting a quick response.
“The resident who reported the rabid animal did a great job of notifying us of the possibility of a rabid raccoon,” Forsyth County Animal Services Supervisor Hailey Brown said. “The quick report of the animal allowed Animal Services to respond quickly and capture it for testing.”
Officials said people who had contact with the raccoon were referred to health care providers and treated for any possible exposure.
According to the province, rabies can only be transmitted to pets and humans through bite wounds, open wounds in the skin, or on mucous membranes, such as the eyes or mouth of a person or animal.
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Rabies is usually transmitted through the saliva of infected mammals, enters the central nervous system and causes inflammation of the brain, which is “almost always fatal,” according to the province.
“Encounters between wild animals and pets, including those involving people, have recently increased, so we encourage all residents to vaccinate their pets against the rabies virus and educate them on what to do if they encounter a potentially rabid animal.” “Brown said.
In the United States, the most common carriers of the rabies virus are raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, and bats.
When you report a wild or domesticated animal acting strange, avoid the animal and contact it, officials said Forsyth County Animal Services At 770-781-2138. If it is after hours, call the Forsyth County 911 Center’s after-hours line at 770-781-3087.
To report an animal bite, call this number immediately Georgia Poison Control Center Helpline at 1-800-222-1222 for medical instructions.
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