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On Sunday, Oct. 27, officials say that a raccoon came into contact with a dog in the area near Sanger Avenue along a Dora Kelley Nature Park trail, which later tested positive for the virus.
The raccoon is dead, the dog is isolated, but there is an increased risk in the area, health officials are cautioning.
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.
Anyone who may have had physical contact with a raccoon in the area has been advised to contact the Alexandria Health Department by calling (703) 746-4910.
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