On April 16^th, canine distemper was confirmed by the WA Animal Diagnostic Disease Laboratory in two King County raccoons, one from Bellevue and one from Redmond (Trilogy).  Other raccoons with clinical signs of distemper have been reported to Public Health from Renton, North Bend, and elsewhere in north/northeast King County. PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood has seen about 8 clinical cases in raccoons so far this year.

Canine distemper is a virus that causes encephalitis and symptoms similar to rabies.  Sick raccoons are generally not afraid of people or pets and have been found in atypical places like outside restaurants, on school grounds, and in other high traffic public areas requiring police or animal control response in a number of instances recently.

Distemper virus is shed in all body secretions of infected animals. The virus is highly contagious with a high fatality rate.  The incubation period in dogs is 1-2 weeks. Neurologic signs may develop 1-3 weeks after recovery from gastrointestinal and respiratory signs, although sometimes neurologic impairment does not occur until months later, even without a history of systemic signs. Thankfully canine distemper does not affect people, but it can affect other wildlife including coyotes, skunks, ferrets, weasels, and harbor seals.  It does not affect domestic cats.

Distemper virus typically does not persist in the environment for more a few hours and it is readily inactivated by most commonly used disinfectants.  Wildlife epizootics tend to occur cyclically and appear when the population is high, which seems to be the case with local raccoon numbers.  It has been reported that distemper outbreaks in raccoons are often seasonal, with peak incidence in the spring (coinciding with breeding season) and in the fall (when young raccoons disperse from their dams). 

In addition to the risk posed to wildlife and domestic dogs and ferrets, Public Health is concerned about the outbreak because it may lead to more people coming into contact with raccoons -- thereby requiring evaluation for potential rabies exposure, more lab testing of wildlife for rabies and/or recommendations for post-exposure rabies prophylaxis. Raccoons are also associated with other public health risks including leptospirosis and Baylisascaris.

Key precautions to take:

• Do not attract raccoons to your home.

• NEVER FEED WILDLIFE – either intentionally or inadventantly.  Keep pet food and water bowls indoors, especially at night.  Keep trash in sealed containers.  Look for other food sources that may be attracting raccoons such as bird seed, chicken food, compost bins, and garden crops especially grapes, berries, and fruit.

• Cap chimneys, repair broken or missing vents and shingles on roofs.  Seal access to spaces under homes, decks and outbuildings. 

• Secure dog or cat doors at night – we are hearing reports of raccoons entering pet doors and raiding cupboards or eating pet food inside homes.

• Make sure your dog’s distemper vaccine is current.  The vaccine is highly effective.

• Don’t let dogs outside alone at night.   If raccoons may be present, have owners take dogs outside on a leash for relieving at dusk or after dark.  That last potty break before bed is the source of many unfortunate dog/raccoon encounters.

• If captured, never relocate a live raccoon.  If a person picks up a live raccoon or captures one in a live trap, it must not be moved and released at another location.  This action is illegal and could be responsible for introducing distemper or other diseases into previously unaffected areas. 
  Instead, a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Officer should be called who will humanely euthanize the animal.  See contact information in the Resource section below.

• If you encounter a sick raccoon, keep people and pets away from it.  Pets bitten by a raccoon should be seen by a veterinarian for wound care and receive a rabies booster.  People bitten should contact their health care provider and Public Health at 206-296-4774.

• Avoid exposure to raccoon feces.  Most raccoons carry the round worm Baylisascaris, which can cause blindness or organ damage from migration of the parasite in people, especially young children.  For information about this disease and cleaning up a raccoon latrine, see link below.

• Avoid exposure to standing water, mud or moist soil that may be contaminated by raccoon urine.  Raccoon are believed to be responsible for many of the cases of canine leptospirois that have occurred in King County over the past several years.  People can also acquire leptospirosis from contact with contaminated water or garden soil.  See link below.

 

Resources  

 

• People bitten by a raccoon should call their health care provider and Public Health at 206-296-4774.

• Public Health maintains information about zoonotic diseases associated with raccoons at:  http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/zoonotics/raccoons.aspx

• Baylisascaris and raccoon latrine clean up information is available at:  http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/zoonotics/diseases.aspx#raccoon

• King County residents who encounter raccoons with signs of canine distemper can call KC Animal Care and Control at 206-296-PETS for advice and suggestions on resources.  Animal Control officers will also pick up dead raccoons.

• WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) offers advice for dealing with problem wildlife at their website at http://wdfw.wa/gov/wlm/living/

• PAWS Wildlife Center can offer tips on solving and preventing conflicts by calling 425-787-2500 ext 817

• WDFW also maintains a list of Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators who are licensed to respond to problem wildlife.  Contact information can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/nwco/ or by calling WDFW North Puget Sound Regional Office at 425-775-1311.