A raccoon that got into a fight with two dogs last week in East Brunswick has tested positive for rabies, according to an advisory from the Middlesex County Office of Health Services.
The incident happened on Sept. 26 at a property in the vicinity of Frost Avenue and Kings Road, but officials did not disclose exactly what happened or if the dogs were severely injured.
There was no human exposure to the raccoon, officials said.
The altercation represents the fifth rabid animal reported in Middlesex County and the second in East Brunswick this year.
The raccoon from last week’s incident was retrieved by animal control and sent for testing at the New Jersey Department of Health Laboratory, authorities said. On Tuesday, the county health department was notified that the raccoon tested positive for rabies.
Authorities are continuing to monitor for additional cases within the township and asked residents to report wild animals demonstrating unusual behavior to the East Brunswick Police Department.
Rabies is an infectious disease that attacks the central nervous system. It travels from the brain to salivary glands during the final stages, making an animal become infectious days before it dies.
It cannot travel from one animal to another unless skin is broken, and is not air-borne, but any open wounds that come in contact with saliva are in jeopardy.
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Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.
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