Health Department Reports First Case of Lab-confirmed Rabies for 2023

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

Environmental Health Services of the Garrett County Health Department reports the first case of laboratory-confirmed rabies for 2023. This case occurred near the Friendsville area where a raccoon attacked a person. 

During the morning of August 14, 2023, the victim heard a commotion coming from their chicken coop. Upon checking on the chickens, an attempt to diagnose the situation, it was quickly found that a raccoon was causing the disturbance. The raccoon then attached itself to the victim’s leg. Immediately following the incident, the victim sought medical treatment and began rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). 

With assistance from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the raccoon was submitted to the Maryland Department of Health Rabies Laboratory on August 14, 2023. Positive rabies virus test results were received on August 15, 2023. The victim will continue PEP which is highly effective in preventing rabies in humans. 

All warm-blooded animals are susceptible to being affected by the deadly rabies virus. The rabies virus is only transferred through the saliva of the infected animal. Signs and symptoms may include neurological signs and changes in the behavior of the animal. 

It is important to remember that if your pet is exposed to a wild or feral animal, do not handle your pet within two hours after contact. If it is necessary to handle your pet, you need to wear protective gloves and immediately wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If you have been bitten by a wild or feral animal that cannot be captured or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies, seek medical treatment immediately, as done so in this incident. 

Pet owners are urged to check the vaccination status of their dogs, cats, and ferrets. All dogs and cats are required, by law, to be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age and can be vaccinated as early as three months. The Garrett County Health Department will hold this year’s last series of low-cost rabies clinics throughout the second week of September 2023. 

Persons with questions regarding rabies or rabies clinics should call Environmental Health Services at 301-334-7760.