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Rabies Alert For Escambia County; Three People Exposed To Rabid Fox, One To Rabid Bat
May 19, 2023
The Florida Department of Health (DOH-Escambia) has issued a Rabies Alert for Escambia County after three people were exposed to one rabid fox and one person was exposed to a rabid bat this month in Escambia County.
NorthEscambia.com has learned the rabid fox bit at list one person at a private residence in Bratt, not far from Northview High School and Travis Nelson Park.
The health department is urging residents across the county to avoid contact with wild and stray animals across the county to protect against risk of rabies exposure.
“Rabies is a potentially fatal disease. It is important not to handle wild animals, to be aware of unusual acting animals, and to keep pets vaccinated against rabies,” said Marie Mott, DOH-Escambia administrator.
Rabies is transmitted through exposure to the saliva and nervous tissue from a rabid animal through a bite, scratch, or contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. DOH-Escambia works with animal control in responding to incidents of animal bites, tests animals for rabies through the Department of Health state laboratory, and quarantines animals as necessary. DOH-Escambia also provides rabies vaccinations to victims of animal bites, the only known effective treatment for rabies prevention in humans.
The following are steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones against rabies:
- Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets and at-risk livestock.
- Do not allow your pets to run free. Follow leash laws by keeping pets and livestock secured on your property. If your pet or livestock are bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Escambia County Animal Services at (850) 595-0097.
- Support animal control in efforts to reduce feral and stray animal populations.
- Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
- Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with outdoor food sources such as uncovered trash or litter.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
- Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.
- Persons who have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek medical attention and report the injury to the DOH-Escambia at (850) 595-6700.
Comments
One Response to “Rabies Alert For Escambia County; Three People Exposed To Rabid Fox, One To Rabid Bat”
How do you prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, and schools???