CREST HAVEN – Cape May County Health Department has confirmed the first positive rabies case of the year from a raccoon collected from Woodbine Avenue in Belleplain, Dennis Township, NJ on March 1st, 2024.

Health Officials were notified of a dog that had possibly been exposed to rabies on February 26, 2024, and brought to a vet for a rabies booster after having had contact with a rabid raccoon. The raccoon tested positive for rabies by the State Health Department Laboratory on March 4, 2024.

Due to this exposure, the dog is being placed in a forty-five-day confinement. There were no human exposures indicated.

An encounter with a potentially rabid animal can be fatal for your pet, particularly if your pet is not currently vaccinated, and puts your family in danger of being exposed to rabies. Residents are advised to take precautions when encountering wild animals, particularly raccoons. Rather than approach a wild animal, call your local Animal Control Officer for assistance.

Health Officer Kevin Thomas stated, “Rabies is nearly always a fatal disease in humans and any animal bite should be taken seriously.” The rabies virus is shed in the saliva of animals that are infected with the virus. If an animal bites you, wash the wound, seek medical attention immediately, and notify the Cape May County Department of Health and your municipal animal control agency. If you are exposed to a rabid or suspected rabid animal, you must receive rabies shots as soon as possible to prevent the disease. If your pet has contact with a wild animal, contact your veterinarian and the Department of Health right away at (609) 465-1187.

State law requires all dogs 7 months and older to be licensed with your local municipality and rabies vaccination is a requirement for licensing. Most municipalities also have ordinances for cats. Many municipalities hold free or low-cost rabies vaccination clinics and rabies vaccine is also available from local veterinarians. Upcoming municipal rabies clinics include (call your municipality to confirm):