Residents have brushes with two rabid animals BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer The year's first two cases of rabies in Middlesex County involved a raccoon in one case and a fox in the other. InMonroe, an unidentified resident contendedwith an antagonistic raccoon on Jan. 15; and in East Brunswick, Becky Blumig, 24, and her dog had a run-in with a rabid fox on Jan. 6. "I walked right out of the back door of my house, and the fox was rubbing on my leg, and then my dog attacked it," Blumig said. At first, she thought the animal rubbing against her was a cat, and moved away quickly because she is allergic. Her coonhound, Red Dog, wasted no time in protecting her owner, killing the fox within a matter of minutes. An animal control officer came to Blumig's home on Holmes Place to retrieve the fox's body. When it was determined three days after the incident that the animal had rabies, all five residents of the house were required to get shots, and Red Dog had to be quarantined for 45 days. "If she hadn't had her shots, they would've had to put her down," Blumig said. Blumig lives two blocks fromCentral Elementary School and also near East Brunswick High School. East Brunswick Board of Education President Todd Simmens said no incidents with rabid animals have been reported on school grounds, but staffwould do their best to ensure students' safety if a situation arose. In such a scenario, he said, police would be called upon to handle it. In Monroe, a resident was chased by an aggressive-acting raccoon, according to a report from the Middlesex County Public Health Department. Acting in defense, the resident killed the rabid animalwith a piece of wood. When tests on the raccoon's body came back positive for rabies, health officials advised the resident to seek medical treatment for possible exposure. Though the two incidents differed greatly, both animals exhibited clues of their rabies status through their behavior. The strangely affectionate fox fit with the warning signs for rabies by acting as if it was tame. The raccoon's aggressive behavior signaled its rabid condition. Other characteristics of rabid animals include slowmovements; the appearance of being sick; problems swallowing; increased saliva and drooling; difficulty moving or paralysis; and biting at everything if excited. County officials are distributing educational literature on rabies to residents in the areas of the incidents. "The Middlesex County Public Health Department continues to monitor rabies cases within the county," said Health Department Director David Papi. "Residents should report wild animals showing signs of unusual behavior and have their pets receive their rabies vaccination.Additionally, it is recommended that residents should avoid contact with wild animals and immediately report any bites from wild or domestic animals to your local health department, and consult a physician as soon as possible." Bite wounds from wild or domestic animals should be immediately cleansed thoroughly with soap and water, as well as any existing cuts or wounds that may have become contaminated by an animal's saliva, according to the health department. Along with contacting a doctor, call local police or animal control officials. Additionally, make sure all pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Some local health departments offer free rabies clinics. According to health department officials, other precautions can be taken to avoid contact with rabid animals. To animal proof homes and yards, secure garbage containers with tight-fitting lids; do not leave pet food or water outdoors; do not allow rainwater to collect in containers outside; keep yards clear of garbage and other debris, and screen off vents to attics and other areas of the home that could provide shelter for bats. Rabies is caused by a virus that can infect all warm-blooded mammals, including humans. The rabies virus is found in the saliva of a rabid animal and is transmitted by a bite, or possibly by contamination of an open cut. Variants of rabies are enzootic for raccoons and bats in New Jersey, meaning the disease is present in the population at all times, but it only effects a small number at any one time. Bats, raccoons, skunks, groundhogs, foxes, cats, and dogs represent about 95 percent of animals diagnosed with rabies in the United States.