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Rhabdoviridae, or more specifically Lyssavirus (rabies), is a zoonotic disease (predominantly spreads from animals to humans) that affects the central nervous system. The most common way to contract rabies is through a bite from an infected animal. While raccoons are cute, they are the main hosts for Rhabdoviridae. This does not mean that you or your pet cannot get rabies. Raccoons can be carriers of the virus for more than a year before exhibiting symptoms and they are contagious the entire time and can spread rabies to any mammal of their choice. Symptoms of rabies come in stages. When in the initial stage one may have extreme fatigue, headaches, fever, and tingling at the site of exposure. Once the virus has fully attached one will display rabies-specific symptoms such as light sensitivity, excessive saliva production, hallucinations, insomnia, aggression, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Almost all cases of rabies lead to death if left untreated for a long period of time. Luckily there are treatments available post-exposure. The infected person is given a shot of immunoglobulin which will contact and defeat the virus and then a shot of a rabies vaccine which will prevent future infection (four or five shots delivered over the course of a month). Treatment should begin before symptoms are exhibited otherwise it is almost always untreatable. In order to avoid all of that mess there are many ways that one can prevent the contraction of rabies. Vaccination can protect pets and high-risk humans. Cleaning the wound directly after the bite can also prevent infection from setting in. However, the best way to prevent rabies is to avoid the bite all together. While animals are cute and fuzzy, do not touch an animal you do not know. It could potentially save your life.

Sources:

https://idcare.com/blog/rabies-what-you-need-to-know/

https://platform.virdocs.com/read/1533660/209/#/4

https://www.who-rabies-bulletin.org/site-page/transmission-and-pathogenesis

https://www.who-rabies-bulletin.org/site-page/transmission-and-pathogenesis