A rabid raccoon has been found in Deer Isle.
The Hancock County town announced over the weekend that there also have been several other unconfirmed cases in raccoons.
It described those reports as “widespread.”
Deer Isle urged residents to exercise caution and ensure their pets are vaccinated against the virus and registered. Residents also should keep their trash covered to avoid attracting the attention of any infected wildlife.
Rabies can infect the nervous systems of humans and other animals, and it spreads mainly through the bites of infected animals.
Common symptoms in animals include aggression, fear, seizures and drooling, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
In humans, rabies causes flu-like symptoms early on. As the virus advances, anxiety, confusion, agitation hallucinations and hydrophobia, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is almost fatal, in both humans and animals, once symptoms develop.
As of Monday morning, there have been 39 confirmed rabies cases among bats, cats, foxes, raccoons and skunks across 12 counties, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
This appears to be the first confirmed case in Hancock County this year.
