Aroostook County fox tests positive for raccoon-strain rabies

    A fox that bit a dog in Aroostook County tested positive for rabies on Friday, April 24. The incident occurred in Masardis, approximately 10 miles south of Ashland, and is the furthest north that rabies has advanced in the state.
    The dog that was bitten by the fox was up-to-date on the rabies vaccination and no human exposure occurred.     Rabies, an infectious viral disease that infects the nervous system of humans and other mammals, is normally transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms are present, although timely post-exposure treatment is effective in preventing the disease in humans. 
    Human rabies cases in the United States are extremely rare. Most cases of rabies in the U.S. are found in wild animals. Several types or variants of the virus adapt to different species, such as raccoons, bats and skunks, but any variant potentially can infect another mammal.
    The raccoon variant is of particular concern because abundant raccoon populations are often found in agricultural and residential habitats where contact with people or pets is more likely.
    The best protection against rabies is to keep your pets up-to-date with rabies vaccinations and not to feed, touch or adopt wild animals. Be cautious of stray dogs and cats. Feed pets indoors, if possible, to avoid attracting wild or stray animals, and keep garbage cans or other sources of food tightly secured. 
    It is vital not to transport and release raccoons or other wildlife from one area to another because this can spread rabies into new areas.
    This infected fox is the second known case of raccoon-variant rabies reported in Aroostook County this year. Prevalent in much of the eastern U.S., the raccoon strain of rabies first appeared in Maine in 1994 and in Aroostook County in 2007. During 2008, Maine reported 71 cases of rabies, with 20 cases so far this year. Most reports have been in southern to central Maine. 
    Given the significance to northern Maine, continued surveillance will occur throughout the summer and fall to locate any additional rabid animals.
    If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and contact your doctor and the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 800-821-5821, in Augusta for advice.
    If a wild animal is acting oddly, please do not handle and stay clear. Contact the nearest Maine Warden Service headquarters to report these suspicious-acting animals so they may be handled properly.