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The county's Department of Health issued an alert on Friday, Nov. 1 advising that anyone who may have come into contact with a raccoon this week in the 6500 block of Shadyside Road in Shadyside should contact officials after the animal tested positive for the virus.
On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the raccoon tested positive for rabies, though therea re concerns it may have spread to other people and pets in the surrounding area.
Rabies is a viral disease that mainly infects mammals (warm-blooded animals who nurse their young) and is spread through the saliva of the infected animal, usually by a bite or scratch, officials said.
Symptoms of rabies in animals may include fear of water, excessive salivation, failure to eat or drink, limping, unusually friendly or aggressive behavior, and/or other atypical behaviors such as nocturnal animals emerging during the daytime.
The disease is nearly always fatal to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Residents who had pets make contact with the infected animal has been asked to contact health officials by calling (410) 222-7254.
"Preventive treatment might be required for anyone who handled, fed or was attacked by the infected animal," officials said. "Rabies is a fatal disease, and preventive treatment (injections) must be started as soon as possible."
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