Environmental Health Services of the Garrett County Health Department reports the county’s second case of laboratory-confirmed rabies for the year 2022. The encounter occurred in the area of Old Morgantown Road on July 6, 2022, between a dog and a raccoon.
The dog, whose vaccination had lapsed, got into an altercation and was bit by a raccoon. The raccoon was euthanized and submitted for testing to the Maryland Department of Health Rabies Laboratory on July 6, 2022. The positive rabies result was received on July 8, 2022, and the dog’s owner was notified the same day. The owner was required to have the dog re-vaccinated and instructed to closely monitor the dog for the next 45 days.
It is important to remember that if your pet is exposed to a wild 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 animal that cannot be captured or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies, seek medical treatment immediately.
All warm-blooded animals are susceptible to the rabies virus. Garrett County Health Department will hold rabies vaccination clinics again in September 2022. All dogs and cats are required, by law, to be vaccinated for rabies by four months of age. Pet owners are encouraged to attend the rabies vaccination clinics in September of 2022 for dogs, cats, and ferrets.
