A rabid beaver that attacked multiple people, including an eight-year-old boy, at a New Jersey lake has tested positive for the virus, authorities confirmed.
Police in Mahwah, New Jersey, reported that the boy was fishing from the shoreline of Lake Henry on Sunday evening when the beaver emerged from the water and charged at him. The child tripped while trying to flee and was bitten on the upper thigh. A family member kicked the animal repeatedly until it released the boy, police said. The beaver remained in the area until emergency medical services arrived and transported the boy to a local hospital.
Multiple Attacks Reported
Authorities said they received several reports and viewed online video showing the same beaver attacking other park visitors earlier that day. Animal control workers captured the animal for testing, noting it exhibited signs of possible illness.
On Tuesday, the Mahwah Health Department announced that the beaver had tested positive for rabies. In a Facebook post, the department stated that individuals who were bitten are currently receiving treatment.
Public Health Advisory
Health officials urged anyone who may have had contact with the beaver to notify local health authorities immediately for a medical assessment. While human rabies cases are rare, the virus is typically transmitted through saliva from an infected mammal, most often via a bite, according to Health Canada.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports approximately 4,000 animal rabies cases each year, with fewer than 10 human deaths annually.
