SAN ANGELO, Texas — UPDATE (Friday 8/18): San Angelo Animal Services reported test results have come back negative for rabies in the raccoon.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A raccoon suspected of carrying rabies has been euthanized and is being submitted for testing, according to San Angelo Animal Control.
The raccoon was initially spotted in the Santa Rita neighborhood by residents, who called animal control and took to social media to spread the word.
Symptoms for rabies in animals include confusion and disorientation, leg paralysis or difficulty walking, wet and tangled hair, significant aggression, and loud, unusual noises. Rabid raccoons may also foam at the mouth and have watery eyes.
While there’s no confirmation of rabies in the animal at this time, San Angelo Animal Shelter’s Morgan Chegwidden said the incident highlights the importance of keeping four-legged family members protected.
“Residents should avoid contact with wild animals and ensure their domestic pets are current on rabies vaccines,” Chegwidden said.
Here are some steps provided by Texas Health and Human Services if you are bitten by a possibly rabid animal:
- Identify the animal - by kind, size, color, and place. Caution children to seek the help of a policeman, school guard or other adult.
- Immediately cleanse the wound thoroughly by washing with soap and water. Rinse well and disinfect with alcohol, iodine, or other disinfectants. This lessens the chance of contracting rabies by removing or inactivating virus in the wound.
- See a doctor immediately after washing the wound. The physician will decide on need for treatment to prevent rabies.
- Report incident to the local health officer and animal control agency.
- If possible, have the biting dog or cat tested for rabies or placed under observation. If it is alive and normal after ten days of observation, the animal was not infective for rabies at the time of the bite.
