Advertisement Towson University students on alert following possible rabid raccoon biting

The search for is on at the campus of Towson University for a potentially rabid raccoon that bit a student on the leg Tuesday morning. On Wednesday, TU students expressed their concerns.11 News spoke with university officials Wednesday afternoon. They say they've put out a number of traps all around campus. They do not know if the raccoon has rabies or not, but the student who was bitten has been treated for the neurological disease anyway and students have been warned to take extra precautions.The biting happened in the Towsontown garage in a stairwell. The student was treated at the hospital and the campus sent an alert, saying if you see a raccoon, give it space and call university police immediately."I think it's kind of scary because it's something you don't think that could be dangerous, but it could be a rabid animal. You could get rabies or other diseases from it," student Brandon Johnson said. "I got a Towson alert on my email and I was like, 'Whoa! Some girl got bit in the leg by a raccoon,'" student Jake Morse said. According to the Department of Health, there are 85 confirmed laboratory cases of rabies in the state this year. Raccoons make up 74% of all those cases.Dr. Jeff Sternlicht did not treat the student who was bitten but said if you're bitten by any animal, get help as soon as possible."First thing you do is wash the wound clean with soap and water aggressively, irrigate it and try to get any particles and keep it clean. Then you would want to either contact your health care provider or go to an emergency room," Sternlicht said. There are about 15 acres of woods on campus, and students told 11 News wild animals like rodents and deer are common sights.If you're bitten or scratched or come into contact with an animal's saliva, a round of four rabies vaccinations in the arm as well as the application immune globulin into the wound will get you cleared and on your way but it can't be fun, and that's why the university hopes to get the raccoon caught."There's a contractor using humane traps to ensure that when we catch the animal, we are able to maintain the health and safety of the animal, too," Sean Welsh, associate vice president of communications and media, said. It's unclear if the raccoon actually has rabies. They have to find it and test it. As for the student who was bitten, the university has no update on her condition, but according to officials, the vaccination is 100% effective.