Senior Digital Editor/Producer, WCVB.comMARION, Mass. —A raccoon found in Marion, Massachusetts, has tested positive for rabies, prompting the town to issue a rabies advisory.According to the Marion Board of Health, a raccoon that was “acting oddly” near Point Road and the water tower tested positive for rabies.What should Marion residents know about the rabies advisory?Town officials ask the public to stay vigilant and watch for wildlife showing signs of rabies and to refrain from interacting with wild animals.Anyone who encounters an animal that may be infected with rabies should not approach it, keep a safe distance and call Animal Control at 508-748-1212 or 911.What animals are most likely to carry rabies in Massachusetts?In Massachusetts, animals most likely to be found infected with rabies include raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes and woodchucks, also known as groundhogs. Cats are the domestic animals most frequently found to be rabid due to lower vaccination rates compared with dogs.What are the signs of rabies in animals?Signs of rabies in animals can include abnormal or aggressive behavior; lethargy, weakness or paralysis; self-mutilation; seizures; excessive salivation; and difficulty breathing or swallowing. Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease caused by a virus carried in the saliva of infected animals. It can spread to people and other animals through a bite or when saliva is introduced into an open wound or the eyes, nose or mouth.How effective is treatment after rabies exposure?Rabies primarily affects the central nervous system and can lead to severe brain disease and death if medical care is not received before symptoms start. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says prompt treatment following a rabies exposure is nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease.
