A new viral “zombie” outbreak has left dozens of raccoons in New York’s Central Park dead after the fuzzy critters contracted the infection. The virus caused the raccoons to be frenzied and exhibit “zombie-like” behavior before their death.
According to the New York Post, officials from the city’s Health and Parks Departments revealed on Saturday that at least 26 raccoons have died since the end of June. Two of the dead raccoons had tested positive for the distemper virus. The other 24 animals are also believed to have been infected with the distemper virus due to the close proximity of their deaths within such a brief time frame.
The most recent raccoon corpse was discovered on Saturday morning at East 106th Street and East Drive in New York. Other living raccoons have been spotted exhibiting symptoms of the disease as well. “They [the raccoons] looked like they were circulating, wandering, having spasms,” said Dr. Sally Slavinski, an assistant director at the Health Department, according to the New York Post. “Some of the raccoons had some sort of nasal discharge.”
Canine distemper (which affects domestic dogs, wolves, foxes, and raccoons among others) belongs to the Morbillivirus class of viruses. It is also a relative of the measles virus, which affects humans, the Rinderpest virus that affects cattle, and the Phocine virus that causes seal distemper. All of these viral strains are members of the Paramyxoviridae family.
Although the raccoon distemper virus cannot be transmitted to humans, it can be contagious to dogs that have not been vaccinated, according to Newsweek. Prepare for the uptick in articles demanding you line the pockets of Merck, the infamous vaccine manufacturer, by getting your dogs vaccinated for canine distemper.
In dogs, the “major symptoms include high fever, reddened eyes, and a watery discharge from the nose and eyes.” As the virus persists, it can lead to anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, paralysis, and fits of hysteria. If the animal’s immune system is weak, death can result within two to five weeks.
Zombies in NY ? https://t.co/8CrOgbS5qf
— Illustrious Sir JJ (@JJohnsonlesss) July 22, 2018
“Now I’m freaked out. Holy moly!” Upper East Side resident Bob Cucurullo, told the New York Post as he walked his beagle terrier, Charlie. “He [Charlie] sees a raccoon once a week, and he goes nuts after it. Now I’ll have to be careful where I let him go.” Experts say that raccoons may initially appear tame before acting aggressive if infected with the distemper virus.
A representative for the parks department warned in an email to the paper that people should never feed “raccoons or any wildlife” they might encounter. “Animals are best observed from a distance – it keeps both them and you safe,” they wrote.
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The nonsense about the virus is a cover-up for the fact that the raccoons have had it with the rudeness of the average New Yorker. Too many rock concerts. Too many jerks who play their stereos too loud. Too many liberals. Go raccoons! Kill! Kill! Kill!
“Canine distemper plays a major role in controlling raccoon populations. Rabies limits numbers in some areas. They are sometimes limited by the availability of den trees and food, especially local acorn production.”
In other words, a Malthusian check maintains equilibrium, between the population and carrying capacity of the land.
It was usually said about humans, but also applies to blighted trees. (Beetles apparently thin them to optimal levels.)
That coon looks a lot like my wife one week out of the month. Distemper in humans is known as PMS.
I’ll wager the scum progressive socialists gave this disease to the raccoons. Like that Cortez woman. All she is fit for is giving head to the local coons.
Menzo, I wouldn’t mind if libturds and foreigners were infected with that disease. Solve a lot of problems.
It is a scary thought that this like rabies may be transmitted from wild raccoons to dogs or cats, perhaps even humans are susceptible. Makes me wonder if it is a natural mutant virus or perhaps something a bio-lab was testing & accidentally or intentionally released it into the environment.Never know these days.
Which is why your pets are required to have vaccinations.
Been that way for years and thus you don’t hear about rabies or distemper anymore.
Raccoons can be a nuisance.
They will push over a light weight garbage can. If the garbages top isn’t attached, it winds up on the ground with trash all over. Better to get a heavy duty garbage bin if you have raccoons. Also use dog urine around the garbage cans.
_ ???
Before the advent of waterproof mascara, ladies with raccoon eyes were a common sight.
__
Raccoons spread diseases…especially RABIES
and DISTEMPER. They are vicious fighters.
Can tear a small dog apart in seconds.
They are terribly smart and can figure out how
to access almost anything a human can close.
A four inch opening in a door (top) or building is easy
access to momma racoon and babies.
My German Shepard loved to hunt…. and would tree
a coon for 8 hours till morning just see it hit the ground
when shot. When she went hunting with us, she was on
ALERT for any game moving. Funny as heck…. she didn’t
understand the “in” or “out ” of SEASON of hunting. ?
She used to look at us like “shoot damn it” !!!
Fur prices are dismal and a coon hide aint worth the effort to skin it. So overpopulation happens and the diseases reduce the population. The whole balance of nature thing is bull crap.
When your dog trees a coon at nite. You shine a light into the tree. Of course the coon will stay hidden. Then you get out your coon squaller. It looks like a duck call. But makes raccoon noises. The treed coon will look to see the other coon that’s making the racket. And your light catches the glow of his eyes and you blast him out of that tree. His egg eating ,chicken killing, roasting ear stealing days are over.
I was disappointed by the headline….I was thinking of a different coon. LOL
OldGuy…..
We never skinned those coons……just kept them
out of the barns. Coon fecal dust is deadly to people
and animals. They would nest in the hay loft and poop
all over the horse hay. Could kill a horse.
Nasty little critters.
They would kill the barn cats who
were killing the rodents on the farm.
Same with squirrels who would chew
holes in buildings.
GOOD RIDDANCE! The damn things get in through my cat door and steal my cat’s food! I now have the door set to let the coon in but not out. I then terminate the damn things.
Coon hunters are a different breed entirely. Look closely at their hats and see what are on them.
They look cute, especially the babies, but they are feisty and bold and will walk right up to a dog’s food and water because they are dippers who moisten every morsel of food. Some dogs are so tame that they are astonished when coons do this. This could end with a dead coon or dead dog or both due to wounds from scratches and bites.
And ticks carried by coons and feral dogs can actually kill a child. The child often will have temporary paralysis from a tick on the head or neck. You really got to watch for this.
At least these aren’t armed or wearing an orange jumpsuit.
That one is the dangerous one.