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The Anne Arundel County Department of Health issued alerts this week after confirming cases of rabies in Crownsville and Laurel that were located on Sunday, Nov. 13, and Thursday, Nov. 15.
In Crownsville, the first raccoon was recovered near the intersection of Maple Hill Lane and Echo Cove Drive on Sunday. In Laurel, the raccoon that tested positive was discovered in the 3200 block of Laurel Fort Meade Road on Thursday.
Rabies is spread by the bite or scratch of an infected animal, such as a groundhog, cat, fox, raccoon or bat, health officials said. It is also spread when an infected animal’s saliva comes in contact with the eyes, nose, mouth, or open cut of a person or another animal.
Symptoms of rabies in animals may include fear of water, excessive salvation, failure to eat or drink, limping, unusually friendly or aggressive behavior, and/or other atypical behaviors such as nocturnal animals emerging during the daytime, officials added.
“The disease is nearly always fatal to humans if infected and no prompt post-exposure treatment is had,” according to officials.
Anyone who may have come into contact with a raccoon or whose pet has unexpected wounds in either area has been instructed to contact the Department of Health between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at (410) 222-7254 or by calling (443) 481-3140 after hours.
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