(Cleveland)- Another positive rabies case has been confirmed in White County. The 6th positive case this years was reported by Sean Sullivan, White County Environment Health Manager Friday morning.
A dog recently had contact with a rabid raccoon in the Danny Palmer Road area of the county. The raccoon was shipped to the Georgia Public Health Lab – Virology Section in Decatur. White County Environmental Health was advised Thursday, that the raccoon tested positive for rabies.
Related: Hart County grandmother kills rabid bobcat with bare hands
Sullivan said the latest case is actually the second positive rabies at this specific address, the first was in November 2017.
In the latest case Sullivan said the resident advised they heard a strange noise in the woods which turned out to be a raccoon. The raccoon was under a log, meowing like a cat. The dog started barking, the raccoon came out from under the log and jumped on the dog. The dog killed the raccoon. The dog is current on its rabies vaccination and will undergo a 45 day quarantine.
Positive alert signs will be posted in the area where the rabid raccoon was located.
If you live in this area and have concerns of rabid animal exposure, please contact White County Environmental Health at 706-348-7698 during normal business hours. Animal owners are encouraged to vaccinate their domesticated pets for rabies.
Residents urged to take precautions
Recently, multiple wild animals have tested positive for rabies within White County. As a precaution, White County Animal Control and White County Environmental Health are strongly urging residents to protect themselves and their pets from encounters with wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes because they are common carriers for rabies.
What you should do.
- Make sure your pets are current on their rabies vaccinations. If not, get your pet vaccinated as soon as possible.
- Stay away from wild animals and keep your pet away from wild animals.
- If you feed your pet outdoors, take up food as soon as your pet is finished eating. Leaving leftover food outside can attract wild animals.
- If you observe any domestic animal acting abnormally – being unusually aggressive, looking ill, not behaving normally – CONTACT ANIMAL CONTROL and/or WHITE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. Do not approach the animal or allow your pet to get near the animal.
- If you observe a wild animal not behaving normally – CONTACT GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR). Do not approach the animal or allow your pet to get near the animal.
- If your pet is attacked by a wild animal, CONTACT ANIMAL CONTROL and DNR immediately.
**Under NO circumstances should the public attempt to trap, catch, or handle wildlife. Public health will only test an animal when a human has been bitten and/or scratched by a wild animal. Testing for domesticated animals that have been bitten and/or scratched by a wild animal will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.**
Notice
Rabies is a virus that is carried in the saliva of infected animals and is usually transmitted through bites. Rabies is a serious illness for animals and humans and is deadly if not prevented.
To report a suspected wild rabid animal call the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR): 770-535-5700
After hours: 800-241-4113
To report a suspected domestic rabid animal call your local animal control office. To report human contact with a suspected rabid animal, call your local health department.
For the most up to date news in White County listen to WRWH Radio 93.9FM/1350AM and visit wrwh.com
