Four people are being treated for rabies exposure after a series of raccoon attacks in Georgetown, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital says.
At least one person was bitten near the intersection of 31st and R streets NW, the Department of Health told WTOP. It's not clear where the other three people were attacked or whether they were bitten by the same raccoon.
Four people were bitten, the hospital says. A fifth person came in, but that person's encounter with the raccoon did not rise to the level of receiving treatment.
According to the Department of Health, the fifth person had her flip flop taken by a raccoon.
Officials do not know whether the raccoon had rabies, but all five were treated for rabies at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital as a precaution and released. They will have to undergo three more vaccines over a period of two weeks, the hospital said.
"We had enough supply of the rabies vaccine but in an instance when we were treating so many bite victims at the same time and because immunoglobulin is not commonly stocked in large supply, we immediately worked with area hospitals to get additional supplies to ensure all five patients received complete and timely treatment before being released," a spokesperson from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital said.
Rabies can be fatal for humans and animals if left untreated. Anyone who may have come in contact with a raccoon should contact the Department of Health at 202-442-5955.
