BOSTON — Five raccoons in Boston have recently tested positive for rabies, and the city is offering free rabies vaccination clinics for resident pets next month, officials said.
“At this time, there have been no reports of rabies exposures or injuries in humans related to interactions with any of these wild animals,” the City of Boston Animal Care and Control departments said in a Facebook post on Friday.
The rabid raccoons were found in city neighborhoods including Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, and Roslindale, officials said.
The most recent rabid raccoon was found near Hillside Avenue in Mission Hill on Monday.
“This is the fifth raccoon recently reported as rabies positive in Boston. Three raccoons were picked up in Jamaica Plain and one raccoon was picked up in Roslindale,” city officials said in their post.
City officials alerted the public to remain vigilant around wild animals and reminded residents of the dangers of rabies exposure.
“Rabies is a serious virus that can be transmitted due to exposure from an infected animal, the disease can be treated by receiving prompt medical attention after exposure. An exposure is any bite, scratch or other situation in which saliva or nervous tissue from a potentially rabid animal enters an open or fresh wound, abrasion or break in the skin, or comes in contact with a mucous membrane by entering the eye, nose or mouth. Rabies in people is preventable with prompt appropriate medical care,” officials said.
Animal control officials offered the following tips to help keep residents and their pets safe:
• Avoid and report wildlife that is behaving strangely or that appears sick or injured
• Keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination
• Supervise pets when they are outdoors
• Seek medical care right away if you are bitten or scratched by an animal.
• Seek care for your pet right away if they are scratched or bitten by a raccoon or other potentially rabid animal.
• Do not attempt to touch or feed wild animals
If you or someone you know has had a recent exposure, particularly a bite or scratch, from a rabid or possibly rabid animal, officials urge you to contact your health care provider or the Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5611.
If your pet has been bitten or scratched by a rabid, or possibly rabid animal, officials urge you to contact your veterinarian or local animal control department.
In September, Boston Animal Care and Control is holding two free rabies vaccination clinics for dogs and cats.
The pet vaccine clinics will be held at BCYF Curtis Hall Community Center on Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at BCYF Tobin Community Center on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, email: animalcontrol@boston.gov.
Animal Control officials are also urging residents to report concerns about sick, injured or oddly behaving wild animals by calling 617-635-5348.
For more information about rabies, please visit BPHC’s www.boston.gov/rabies.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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