Teenager swimming in Maryland lake bitten by rabid beaver - WTOP

What the report says

WTOP reported that a teenager was bitten by a beaver while swimming Sunday morning in a designated swim area at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County, Maryland. The incident happened around 9 a.m. in Hunting Creek Lake, and officials later determined the animal was infected with rabies.

According to the report, animal control collected the beaver later Sunday from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. On Monday, the Maryland Department of Health informed the Frederick County Health Department that testing had confirmed rabies. Authorities have temporarily barred swimming in the William Houck Area of Hunting Creek Lake until they determine it is safe to reopen, a process officials said could take several days.

The Frederick County Health Department urged anyone who may have had contact with the beaver or other wildlife to contact a doctor and the department’s Community Health Services Office at 301-600-3342. People concerned about exposure involving pets or livestock were advised to call a veterinarian and notify the county Environmental Health Office at 301-600-1717.

Health officials noted that rabies is a viral illness affecting mammals and is typically spread through saliva, often through bites. They said animals with rabies may show unusual behavior, including aggression, excessive salivation, difficulty eating or drinking, or daytime activity by normally nocturnal animals. Rabies is considered a medical emergency because it is almost always fatal in humans if exposure is not treated promptly.