Middletown officials are warning residents to be cautious about sickly wildlife after five confirmed cases of rabid raccoons over the past five weeks.
According to an alert issued by the township health department Wednesday morning, the latest case involved a raccoon that was trapped after a homeowner in the area of Red Hill Road and Dwight Road notified them that the animal was acting sickly in the back yard.
The animal was trapped and euthanized, and a laboratory test confirmed the presence of rabies, the announcement said.
According to the health department, prior confirmed cases of rabies involved raccoons in the area of Michael Drive off Nutswamp Road; Ueland Road off Nutswamp Road; Essex Street off Bray Avenue; and Clay Court off Hartshorne Road.
The Clay Court incident involved a raccoon that was killed by a dog in late April. Officials said the dog was up to date on its rabies vaccinations, and would be quarantined at home for 45 days as a precaution.
Dogs or cats that are not properly immunized when they come into direct contact with a rabid animal would be placed under either a strict six-month confinement in a cage with no human contact, or would be euthanized to protect the family and the public from the rabies virus, the agency said.
From the announcement:
The Middletown Township Health Department would like to remind residents to be aware of your pets when they are outside. Wildlife will be attracted to areas where residents put food out for their animals. Any dog or cat found to be in direct contact with a known rabid animal that is not properly immunized could be at risk. The domestic animal would have to be placed under either a strict 6-month confinement in a cage with no human contact or would be humanely euthanized to protect the family and the public from the Rabies virus.
It is imperative that all dogs and cats are licensed in the Township. A valid rabies shot is required for licensing and ensures that all of our domestic pets (dogs and cats) are protected and do not end up as noted above when found to be in contact with a rabid animal. License applications are accepted year-round. Call with questions regarding licensing.
Residents should not be interacting with any wildlife. If you come across a sick or injured animal, keep your distance and please contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097 immediately or contact the Police Department after hours and on weekends. Remember, Rabies is a fatal disease. The best course of defense is the vaccination of your pets and not handling or interacting with wildlife.
