Trouble wears a mask: 16 who befriend baby raccoon now face rabies threat

island packet ^ | May 9, 2008 | LIZ MITCHELL

[george76]

Sixteen people who fed, kissed and held a baby raccoon on Hilton Head Island now are being treated by a physician after the animal tested positive for rabies.

There also are seven more people who might need vaccines to prevent them from contracting the disease

"Someone adopted a baby raccoon and passed it around to everyone they knew and kissed it on the lips," .

"There was a lot of affectionate handling, kissing it and feeding it. Part of that is it was three weeks old, and they inserted fingers into the raccoon's mouth. Saliva is one way that rabies spreads."

Boatwright said the baby raccoon did not show signs of the disease, but got sick Monday and had seizures. On Tuesday, a veterinarian euthanized the animal and sent it to DHEC, where it tested positive for rabies.

In most cases, Boatwright said, wild animals will not show signs of rabies, and people will not experience symptoms if they are exposed to the disease.

"Once you have a symptom, it has reached the brain and it is fatal,"

[LucyT]

They just want a warm place to live, lol.

[metmom]

Truly, there’s one born every minute.

Wild animals are wild.

Sheesh.

[nw_arizona_granny]

“How Boring!!!”

Your Cat caption/photo is perfect.

[SunkenCiv]

Adorable, but only as a photograph. :’)

[It's me]

PLEASE tell me that that is a photo-shoped picture!!!!!!

[Daffynition]

[Lady Jag]

[Daffynition]

Full recovery expected...

[Lady Jag]

And then there'll be dancing in the streets!

[Daffynition]

No doubt an Obama supporter...