A fifth rabid raccoon prompts Boston rabies alert

Boston well being officers introduced a rabies alert Friday after a raccoon examined optimistic for the lethal illness, the newest in a latest spate of native rabies experiences. 

The town’s Animal Care and Management division introduced Friday {that a} rabid raccoon was found in Mission Hill. It’s the fifth Boston raccoon to check optimistic for rabies in latest weeks.

The Mission Hill raccoon was discovered on Aug. 14 close to Hillside Avenue. Beforehand, three raccoons had been picked up in Jamaica Plain, and one in Roslindale. 

Up to now, no people have been uncovered to rabies or suffered accidents associated to the raccoons. 

Animal management officers introduced the rabies alert on its Fb web page and requested anybody who believes they could have been uncovered to the illness to contact their physician or the Boston Public Well being Fee at 617-534-5611. Anybody whose pet has are available contact with rabies ought to name their veterinarian or native animal management workplace.

Rabies is a life-threatening virus that may be transmitted by publicity from an contaminated animal. Immediate medical therapy is important for anybody who has been bitten or scratched by a probably rabid animal.

In keeping with Boston Animal Management, “An publicity is any chunk, scratch or different state of affairs during which saliva or nervous tissue from a probably rabid animal enters an open or contemporary wound, abrasion or break within the pores and skin, or is available in contact with a mucous membrane by coming into the attention, nostril or mouth. Rabies in folks is preventable with immediate applicable medical care.”

Well being officers shared the next tricks to preserve people and pets secure from rabies:

• Keep away from and report wildlife that’s behaving surprisingly or that seems sick or injured.

• Preserve pets updated on their rabies vaccination.

• Supervise pets when they’re outdoor.

• Search medical care immediately if you’re bitten or scratched by an animal.

• Search care on your pet immediately if they’re scratched or bitten by a raccoon or different probably rabid animal.

• Don’t try to the touch or feed wild animals.

Boston Animal Care and Management will maintain two free rabies vaccination clinics for canine and cats. One will happen at BCYF Curtis Corridor Group Heart on Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,  and one other will likely be held at BCYF Tobin Group Heart on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Anybody occupied with extra details about the clinics can e mail [email protected].

Anybody wishing to report a wild animal in Boston that seems sick, injured or oddly behaving can contact animal management officers at 617-635-5348.