16 treated after touching rabid raccoon
HILTON HEAD ISLAND — More than a dozen people in Hilton Head are being treated by a doctor after they held, fed or kissed a baby raccoon that later tested positive for rabies.
Department of Health and Environmental Control officials tell The Island Packet of Hilton Head that 16 people are being evaluated. Seven more people might need vaccines to prevent them from contracting the disease.
DHEC Public Information Director Clair Boatwright said someone adopted the 3-week-old raccoon and that the animal was handled affectionately by several people before it became ill Monday. The animal later tested positive for rabies. Boatwright said the disease is fatal once symptoms begin to show, meaning the virus has reached the brain. Boatwright said 20 of the residents' pets are being quarantined for 45 days.
Heath officials warn that wild animals should be left alone.
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wonderdog (anonymous) says...
Kissing a baby wild animal???? Smart, very smart.
(note: I included the name of this type of animal in my comment and was warned)
May 10, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
auger (anonymous) says...
I believe the way this is supposed to be handled is the person finding such an animal contacts DNR who will, pick up the animal or, place them in contact with a state certified wildlife rehabilitation person.
May 10, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ForPnC (anonymous) says...
Okay, I'm not stupid enough to play with wild animals but I have a question. How do you get rabies from just TOUCHING a rapid animal? Don't you need to be bitten or scratched?
Folks - If a wild animal is acting strangely then report it and keep track of it until authorities arrive. They don't just walk up to humans wanting a scratch behind the ears. They are literally going crazy and don't know what they're doing.
Cute and cuddley DOES kill!
May 10, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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