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Health officials have issued a warning to residents in one New Jersey town. According to the Camden County Health Department, a raccoon removed from a neighborhood in Gloucester Township has tested positive for rabies. On April 25, a Gloucester Township resident observed their dog with a raccoon in their neighborhood, officials said. Officials stated that the Gloucester Township Animal Control Officer picked up the animal and submitted it for rabies testing at the state Public Health & Environmental Laboratories in Trenton. This week, the DHSS notified the Camden County Health Department that the animal was rabid. No humans have been reported to be exposed to the raccoon, only the dog, according to officials. "Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment," said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Camden County Health Department. "If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention."
Betteridge has tips for the county residents: Betteridge said it is also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals: