Raccoon in College Park tests positive for rabies, health officials say

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (DC News Now) — Health officials said that a rabid raccoon was found in College Park in April.

The Prince George's County Health Department said that the College Park Animal Service Division captured the raccoon alive in the 9500 block of 50th Pl. on April 23 between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. The raccoon seemed to be "very ill and weak."

Officials said that on April 25, the Maryland Department of Health said that the raccoon had tested positive for rabies.

The Health Department said if you know of any people or animals who may have had contact with a raccoon in the area between April 13 and April 23, you should call (301) 583-3751 immediately.

If anyone is bitten by a rabid animal or exposed to its saliva, they need to prevent the disease by getting four doses of the rabies vaccine over 14 days. If someone contracts the disease, it is almost always fatal.

Another raccoon had tested positive for rabies earlier in April.