WASHINGTON — Residents of a Fairfax County neighborhood are being warned after a rabid raccoon attacked a man Sunday.
The raccoon bit the man in the 5300 block of Kings Park Drive causing a cut that was almost a foot long. Animal control was called to the scene and the animal was shot when it charged an officer.
Testing confirmed it had rabies.
The man who was attacked was treated and is taking medication.
In a news release, the Fairfax County Police Department said there have been 21 cases of rabies in 2015. Last year, there were 50. The most common animals are raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.
Fewer than 10 percent of rabies cases involve domestic animals.
More information about rabies is available on the Fairfax County government website.
