(From The Press of Atlantic City)

A raccoon found attacking a cat at a home on Fourth Avenue was confirmed as the sixth case of rabies in Atlantic County this year, health officer Patricia Diamond said Friday.

The property owner’s son saw the raccoon attack the cat Monday, Diamond said. An animal control officer removed the raccoon and brought it for testing to the state Department of Health laboratory, and the rabies test was confirmed positive Wednesday.

No humans were exposed to the virus, Diamond said.

Rabies in Atlantic County is most commonly found in raccoons, but it has also been confirmed in bats, skunks, foxes, cats, groundhogs, ferrets and dogs, Diamond said.

Residents should make sure their pets are vaccinated against rabies, and teach their children to avoid contact with wild animals, Diamond said. Anyone who is bitten or scratched by an unknown animal should seek immediate medical attention.