Raccoon...

i'm just so not squiffy about that sort of thing. if i saw the raccoon and it was acting weird, i suppose i might toss it just on general principles. but my little farm is full of dirt and animals and i just can't freak out over vague possibilities. i'd clean the dang mop and keep using it.
khairete
S.

spray it with bleach and continue to use it. Unless it will gross you out. If so...get a new one.

You cannot get Rabies from touching a broom. You can get Rabies from a bite exposure or (less likely) a scratch exposure from a rabid animal. Rabies is still uncommon in raccoons - PA had the most rabid raccoons in the county in 2010 and that was 114 in the first 6 months of the year. Rabies is just about invariably fatal to mammals (except for bats) once signs develop so post exposure prophylaxis is essential if you have actually been exposed to a rabid animal. It doesn't actually matter whether Rabies might cross the placenta - because you will be dead. Also most raccoons exhibiting abnormal behavior have either Distemper or aberrant parasite migration - not Rabies. But absolutely no reason to take any chances by interacting with them.

Sounds like rabies is pretty uncommon in Missouri's raccoons. I doubt that the swiffer poses any danger. Most raccoons that behave abnormally have other diseases, such as canine distemper which does not transmit to humans.

http://mdc.mo.gov/landwater-care/animal-management/animal...

Clean it well --- it will be fine.

But seriously about 75% of the raccoon polulation has rabies. It is one of the few diseases that can cross the plancetia and infect the unborn babies. Always be cautious around any wild animal that will come that close to humans.

I'm like Sue T...Id clean it and move on lol

Here in central Texas, we have a lot of problems with rabies in bats... (and we have several LARGE populations of Mexican freetail bats in the area.. they live under the bridges.)

We always hear warnings to not even TOUCH a dead bat, since the saliva carries the rabies virus, and they deposit the saliva on their fur when they groom themselves. We frequently hear broadcasts that if anyone touched a particular bat that was found dead, and tested positive for rabies, that they need to seek medical attention.

So... I don't know for sure, but if you handled the area the raccoon bit, there COULD be a possibility that the virus would be on that area.

Frankly, a swiffer mop isn't that expensive... I'd probably feel safer tossing it.

I would throw it out.

I doubt that you can get rabies from touching the mop, but I would still get rid of it. Wear gloves when you touch it since it could have germs from the animal.

I'm more concerned that household cleaning items are kept in a place that wild animals have access to. Your broom, mops and family should be kept in a place where the wild animals are not.