Woman walks into North Dakota bar with racoon, health officials warn of rabies exposure

A girl walked right into a North Dakota bar carrying a raccoon, main well being officers to warn those that had contact with the animal about doable rabies publicity.

Bartender Cindy Smith mentioned she was serving drinks on the Maddock Bar final week when a neighborhood resident introduced within the animal throughout comfortable hour. There have been about 10 folks within the saloon on the time, she mentioned.

Smith mentioned she instantly requested the girl to go away however as an alternative she took the raccoon across the bar to indicate one other buyer. The girl finally departed with the animal after about 5 minutes.

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“We lastly obtained her out with it, and that’s all that occurred,” Smith informed The Bismarck Tribune. “It by no means left her arms one time, and there was completely no biting.”

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Maddock is city of about 500 folks positioned about 85 miles from the Canadian border.

Rabies is a viral an infection that impacts mammals, together with people. In an alert issued Tuesday, North Dakota’s Well being and Human Providers Division is asking anybody who could have been bitten or had contact with the raccoon’s saliva to hunt medical care.

“As a result of rabies is such a severe illness with a virtually 100% fatality fee, we’re making this data accessible to the general public as a precautionary measure,” epidemiologist Amanda Bakken mentioned in a press release.

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Six rabid animals have been reported in North Dakota this yr, together with two bats, two cats, one bovine and one skunk.

Mentioned Smith, “I had no thought what she was considering.”