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The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources asked the people responsible for keeping the raccoon that has been seen in recent days, presumably in the Cristo Rey sector, National District, to voluntarily hand it over to said institution or to the National Zoo. Arch. Manuel Valverde Podestá.

Image/SHAWSHANK61

The request of the governing entity of the environment responds to the high danger of having said animal outside its natural habitat, because this mammal, which is from the Procyonidae family, is a carrier of various diseases that are harmful to humans. and the pets.

“Bites or scratches can cause rabies. And their urine and feces can pose several serious health risks,” the Environment Ministry warned.

Through the Vice Ministry of Protected Areas and Biodiversity, the entity explained that last Friday, February 17, a team of technicians from the Ministry, with the assistance of two agents from the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA), visited the aforementioned sector where he believes the animal is there, but he could not see it because they have it hidden in a residence and several locals requested money in exchange for delivering the species.

“The law prevents us from entering a private facility without a search warrant issued by a judge, so we proceeded to withdraw and we will return with the corresponding authorizations to seize the animal,” the institution said.

In this sense, the entity in charge of conserving biodiversity, assured that it will remain vigilant and has arranged trained personnel to tour different areas where the raccoon has been seen, places where it has also placed trap cages to capture it.

Diseases that a raccoon could transmit

The mammal, which was seen in a video on social networks in the aforementioned sector and whose origin is unknown until now, transmits rabies to another animal or human through saliva. It causes muscle pain, dizziness, fatigue, fever, delirium, aggression, and eventually death.

Another is baylisascariasis, a parasite that can cause lethal central nervous system infection (CNS).

The species also carries leptospirosis, a bacterium that is transmitted through feces and can cause fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, jaundice, and kidney or liver failure.

Another of the disease that the raccoon could transmit is salmonellosis. This causes abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. It can often lead to hospitalization.

Giardiasis: This bacterium also causes gastrointestinal upset including bloating, vomiting, indigestion, and loss of appetite.

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