Diseases That Raccoons Can Spread to Humans

Humans can come in contact with raccoons in the wild, but also unexpectedly in their homes or back yards. Raccoons nest in attics and chimneys bear their young. They come to your home at night to forage through the trash. Although they may look cute, raccoons carry diseases that they can transmit humans. It is important to protect your family and yourself from these potentially fatal diseases.

Rabies

• Raccoons can spread rabies to humans through bites because the virus is found in the infected animal's saliva. Humans also can be infected if they are scratched by a rabid raccoon because the animal's claws frequently come in contact with its mouth and saliva while foraging. Rabies affects the central nervous system, first with itching at the bite or scratch site and then headache, fever and mood changes, such as irritability. Once rabies reaches the brain, it causes difficulty breathing, hallucinations and seizures before resulting in death. If you have been bitten or scratched by a raccoon, seek treatment immediately. Also call professional raccoon trappers or the local government animal control agency. Do not try to catch the animal.

Roundworm

• Raccoons that are infected with roundworm excrete millions of eggs in their feces. As a result, roundworm can be spread to humans if raccoons live in your garden, backyard or your child's sandbox and you ingest the eggs found in contaminated soil. Once the eggs are inside your body, they hatch in the small intestines and can migrate to other organs like the liver or brain. Symptoms of roundworm infection---fatigue, nausea, loss of muscle tone, decreased coordination, blindness and coma---can develop within a week if you have ingested a large number of eggs. If you come across raccoon feces, clean it up carefully while wearing gloves and a mask to prevent contamination. The feces should be burned to eliminate all roundworm eggs and larvae.

Leptospirosis

• Leptospirosis is caused by the Leptospira bacteria. Infected raccoons have it in their urine, and humans can be infected if they drink water that has been contaminated by raccoon urine or if the contaminated water comes into contact with their eyes, nose or mouth. Beware of any standing water in storm drains, rain gutters, child pools or pet bowls. Leptospira bacteria can cause flu-like symptoms, headaches, muscle aches and fever. A serious case of Leptospirosis can cause kidney and liver damage.