Sick Raccoon Could Be First Rabid Raccoon in L.A. County in 53 Years; Officials Urge Caution
Los Angeles is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Los Angeles County Public Health has confirmed a sick raccoon found in a resident's backyard tested presumptively positive for rabies — potentially the first rabid raccoon in the county in 53 years. The county has already confirmed 70 rabid bats this year, a record high, with detections trending upward for more than a decade.
"The detection of rabies in a raccoon is an important reminder to never touch, handle, or feed any wild animals, even when they appear healthy," County Health Officer Muntu Davis said in a statement. Residents should keep their distance from sick or unusually behaving wildlife, seek medical advice immediately after any bite from a wild mammal, and keep pets up to date on rabies vaccination — "one of the most important steps you can take to protect your entire family." Rabies spreads mainly through bites, scratches or saliva contact, is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but timely post-exposure treatment is highly effective.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：野生浣熊（资料图）。
