Once again, a person who picked up a raccoon has been treated for rabies. The woman on James Island who took a baby raccoon to an emergency care center on June 8th was treated for rabies after the animal was found to be rabid.

The state has experienced several cases of preventative rabies treatment because of wild animals being picked up by humans.

The shots used in preventative treatment run about $1,000.

A press release quotes Sue Ferguson of DHEC's Bureau of Environmental Health:
"We cannot stress enough the importance of resisting the urge to adopt wildlife," Ferguson said. "Despite the prevalent folklore, there is no way to tell from looking at an animal whether or not it has rabies, and baby animals can carry the disease without showing symptoms as well.

"Therefore, anyone bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to the saliva of a rabid animal must undergo immediate measures to stop the virus from reaching the brain because once the rabies virus reaches the brain the disease is fatal to humans and animals."