A bear that attacked a man in Pennsylvania this week was confirmed to have rabies, according to wildlife officials. The attack occurred in Carbon County, in the town of Jim Thorpe.
Andrew Neirer, the victim, was walking along a trail to the store when he saw an adult male black bear in the woods. He attempted to avoid the animal, but it approached him. The bear began to bite and scratch him, behaviors considered abnormal for the species.
A neighbor witnessed the attack and recorded the incident. The neighbor then shot the bear to stop the attack. Neirer told CBS affiliate WYOU that he was feeling okay and expressed that the situation “could’ve been a lot worse.”
“I feel bad for the bear, because they really do not bother you that much,” Neirer said. “Just, anything happens.”
Officials from the Pennsylvania Game Commission arrived at the scene. They took the bear’s remains for testing, and on Thursday, they confirmed the animal had rabies. Neirer, however, is expected to make a full recovery and has received appropriate medical treatment.
Rabies is a rare condition among bears, officials noted. It is typically isolated to certain cases. Since male bears hibernate alone during the winter, it is unlikely that other animals were exposed to the virus. The Game Commission emphasized the importance of reporting any animals displaying strange behavior to authorities.
Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system in both humans and animals. It can cause brain and spinal cord inflammation, and it is usually transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal via biting or scratching. If treated promptly, rabies exposure can be prevented, with treatment showing near-100% effectiveness.
Last year, at least three people in North America died after being bitten or scratched by rabid bats.
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