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Warning Issued After Rabid Raccoon Attack In Escambia County
January 31, 2019
Local health officials are warning residents and visitors to avoid contact with wild and stray animals after a rabid raccoon attacked someone in Escambia County.
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County health specialists collected tissue samples from the raccoon and have forwarded the samples to the state laboratory, which has confirmed the presence of the rabies virus.
Officials did not release the location in the county of the incident.
Rabies is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system. Without proper treatment, rabies can cause brain infection and death. Rabies is transmitted by a rabid animal by a bite, a scratch, or by contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. A series of “rabies shots” can protect a bite victim from developing the rabies infection, if given soon after the bite occurs.
“Rabies is a fatal infection but is preventable,” notes FDOH-Escambia’s director, Dr. John J. Lanza. “It is important to not feed or pet wild and stray animals, to avoid animals that appear to be acting strangely, and to keep pets vaccinated against rabies. Persons who are bitten by a wild animal or an animal who has not been vaccinated against rabies should seek immediate medical care. Proper medical treatment of an animal bite can be life-saving.”
In Florida, raccoons, foxes, bats, and cats are the animals most frequently diagnosed with rabies. Other animals that are at high risk for rabies include dogs, bobcats, skunks, and otters. Because of their proximity to people, stray and unvaccinated cats and dogs pose a special risk.
Individuals cannot always tell if an animal has rabies by looking at it. To guard against rabies, the health department recommends residents follow these steps:
- Teach your children not to go near wild and stray animals, and never keep them as pets.
- Vaccinate your dog, cat, ferret, or horse to protect against rabies. Keep vaccinations up-to-date.
- Do not feed your pets outside. The food may attract wild animals.
- Make sure your garbage is securely covered. Open garbage attracts wild and stray animals.
- Spay or neuter your pet to reduce its tendency to roam or fight.
- Do not let your pets roam freely or allow them to interact with wild or stray animals. Keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash at all times.
- Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come into contact with people and pets.
- Call Escambia County Animal Control, at 850-595-0097, to remove stray dogs and cats from your neighborhood.
- If your pet is bitten by another animal, immediately seek veterinary assistance for your pet and contact Escambia County Animal Control.
- If you are bitten by a wild animal, or by any animal that is acting strangely, seek medical care as soon as possible so that a physician can evaluate your risk of rabies infection and administer the rabies vaccine, if appropriate.
DOH-Escambia’s Environmental Health division investigates animal bite reports, tests animals for rabies through the state laboratory, and orders animal quarantine as necessary. For more information, or to report an animal bite, contact the FDOH-Escambia Environmental Health office at (850) 595-6700 or visit www.EscambiaHealth.com.
File photo.
Comments
16 Responses to “Warning Issued After Rabid Raccoon Attack In Escambia County”
It’s an act of stupid not to let the public know the general vicinity of the attack. We don’t need the person’s name or address. At least within a 5 mile radius the area of the attack. I see no point in even addressing the situation if you are closed lip about where it happened.
Any of these wild animals come in my yard, and they will be dealt with personally. There won’t be any calling done.
It is the right of everyone who is living, working, visiting in the county or area of a known and confirmed attack of an animal with rabies! Yes common sense don’t play with wild critters but come on y’all , release the location of the attack to the pubic. We are not requesting the person or their animal or their adress and or vehicle registration , we want to be able to be cautious and take appropriate measure for safety for our own selves and others and our animals (even if have been vaccinated ) nobody wants to be attacked. There are 8 that I know of raccoons in my yard t night (love in country ) so this junk spreads so can the county decide to provide this information please . After all much more information is released to the public for concern … seems if a manhunt or animal attack there is no discription of person to be aware of but want to make us cautious and call it in & a rabbis attack just know it exists , but where ? Just saying I think the release of actual impertinent information is backwards ! My opinion but I am sure it is well agreed amongst many!
Now when there was a bear in the Navy Point/Beach Haven area, they told us but for some reason they don’t tell us there are coyotes just west of us. We have to find out when we see a few cats and possums dead and I can’t remember the last time I saw a Raccoon. I would like to know about these things. I sometimes throw my net in Bayou Grande. Luckily I haven’t run into a coyote, just a red Fox running the beach at night. I certainly don’t want to run into a rabid animal, I might have to stay in the water and hide behind the new oyster reefs.
@ Bill M.
They never tell us. Maybe William can find out the real reason and there won’t be any more need for speculating!
Its crazy not to tell where it happened . What if it was next door to you or some of your people?
Note…..The area with these wild & sick animals,should be told to the People of our county.Who died and made you king of Es cambia.If someone is bitten .The county can be sued.This is not in intrest of our people.
I’m with y’all ‘ would be nice to know where!
Come on Government officials- tell us at least what Nieghbourhood
Just give us the zip code for the area
Releasing the location would lead to bad things happening. One, a steady stream of traffic near the location from bored people that want to catch a glimpse of a rabid animal, foaming at the mouth, chasing residents down the street. That, or people would think “Oh, that’s twenty miles away. Nothing to worry about.”
A rabid animal can travel a lot more than twenty miles in one day. They can’t stop moving. Be on guard. Make sure your pet’s inoculations are up to date. Keep your eyes open. This thing isn’t going away. Someone was attacked by a rabid raccoon in Fairhope several weeks ago. In a hospital parking lot. Be safe.
I’m with you Bill M. Escambia County is not small. It is crazy to not tell the public what location the animal was in.
Completely agree with Bill H. I do not understand why the do not release the location of where the animal was encountered. Releasing the location can only assist residents in being even more aware in certain locations.
The public has a right to know,where in Escambia co.this attack occurred!
I agree with Bill M. They need to at least let us know what area of Escambia County.
Excellent question Bill M. I was thinking the same thing.
Why don’t they tell us where this attack happened?