A raccoon found on Oak Drive in Absecon is Atlantic County's first rabies case of the year, officials said Thursday.

The raccoon was brought to the county animal shelter in Pleasantville after police observed it behaving strangely, the county said in a news release. The animal was euthanized and sent to the state lab for testing, where it was confirmed positive for rabies Wednesday.

No humans were exposed to the disease, the county said.

Rabies can be fatal if left untreated, the county said. The viral disease can be transmitted through direct contact with saliva through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth. Most human cases of rabies are the result of a bite from an infected animal. If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and

See Full Page