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A man is receiving treatment for rabies after being bitten by an injured raccoon in Cherokee County, Georgia
According to Chattahoochee Nature Center Wildlife Rehabilitation, the man was attacked by the animal after it freed its head from his coat while he drove to them
“Fewer than 35 people in the last 50 years have survived rabies once symptoms appeared,” said the rehabilitation center
A man in Georgia is receiving treatment for rabies after being bitten by an injured raccoon that he was attempting to rescue.
On Saturday, Nov. 29, Chattahoochee Nature Center Wildlife Rehabilitation (CNC) explained in a Facebook post that they were sharing details of the incident that had happened days prior for educational purposes.
The center said the man wrapped the raccoon in his coat after finding it injured on a Cherokee County road. He then proceeded to drive for over an hour to CNC with the animal held against his chest.
“During the drive, the raccoon freed its head and bit the finder on the face and hands,” the Facebook post recalled. “He drove home, wrapped the raccoon in a blanket with duct tape, and then continued to CNC.”
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Raccoon (stock image)
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Having arrived at the Wildlife Clinic an hour before opening, CNC was alerted to the man’s situation by their camp director, who was preparing to welcome kids for Thanksgiving break.
“Wildlife staff met the finder in the parking lot with a kennel to secure the animal. After much forceful insistence on our part, he finally agreed to go to the hospital for treatment while we dealt with the raccoon,” CNC wrote on Facebook.
A staff member made an emergency call to Bells Ferry Veterinary Hospital, which accepted the raccoon to be euthanized and submitted to the Cherokee County Health Department.
Less than two days later, the raccoon’s test results came back positive for rabies.
“Unlike domestic pets, lone wild animals in pain and distress do not vocalize since this could attract predators,” said CNC. “ It is imperative to ensure a rehabilitator is licensed for the type of animal you have. Rehabbers cannot legally accept animals for treatment not covered by their state and federal licensing, but we will always try and point you in the right direction.”
They added that people should be honest about the information they gave, stating that the finder did not give “Wildlife Department staff or the hospital his full name, and even provided a fake phone number to the hospital treating him.”
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Chattahoochee Nature Center
The center reportedly learned of the man’s name after a relative called them the following day.
“Rabies in humans has a >99% fatality rate without treatment, and post-exposure vaccinations must be started within 48-72 hours of exposure,” said CNC. “Fewer than 35 people in the last 50 years have survived rabies once symptoms appeared. These individuals were treated with a variety of highly experimental protocols and there is not yet a validated, accepted treatment.”
They added, “While the finder’s heart was in the right place, he put himself, his family, CNC’s staff, volunteers, and visitors, the GWN transporter, and the staff of Bells Ferry all at risk.”
The center concluded by urging people to “assess the situation before attempting to capture wildlife without direction.”
Read the original article on People