Warren Township: Be Aware And Cautious Of Potential Rabid Animals

Press release from the Warren Township:

June 23, 2021

The Warren Township Health Department is reporting that a raccoon found in Warren Township tested positive for rabies on June 22, 2021. While Health Department personnel have identified individuals potentially exposed to this animal, we encourage anyone who has had direct contact with a raccoon to contact the Health Department immediately. This is the second positive rabies case this year in Warren and third in the Commission service area.This incident should serve as a reminder of the importance of making sure your pet is up to date on their vaccinations, especially rabies. In addition, we encourage pet owners to be aware of their pets’ location and activities at all times in order to try to avoid preventable exposures. If your pet is exposed to a wild animal, it is very important to notify the health department, have the pet seen by a veterinarian, test the wild animal if it is available, and to avoid human contact with any saliva, wounds, etc. to prevent human exposures.The Warren Township Health Department urges residents to be aware and cautious of potential rabid animals and avoid contact with any unknown animal. Rabies, a neurological disease, is almost 100% preventable. However, rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms have developed so prompt action is necessary to prevent rabies!The Warren Township Health Department is available to assist you with any incidents. Please contact us at 908-753-8000, Ext. 239. You can also contact us by email at pmartins@warrennj.org with any questions or concerns.If an incident occurs after normal hours please contact the Warren Township Police Department.

This press release was produced by the Warren Township. The views expressed here are the author’s own.