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By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - There has been another confirmed case of rabies in Pike County. In the early evening hours of August 8, 2014, a dog chased a raccoon into a home on the outskirts of Hollonville. A 5 year old child was bitten eight times by the raccoon.
Law Enforcement responded to the emergency call and turned the case over David Allen, who is serving as the Animal Control Officer for the county, who sent the head off for testing. That test came back positive for rabies. The child has received the rabies vaccine because of this exposure to the disease. [Note from the Editor: It was originally reported that the deputy killed the raccoon, but this was incorrect.]
Added 8.16.14: The first case of rabies was confirmed in March or April of this year when a raccoon climbed into a dog pen during daylight hours and was killed by the dogs in that pen. These homeowners immediately called their vet's office and took the dead raccoon to be refrigerated until it could be turned over to the proper authorities to be tested for the disease. The dogs were also checked out and given a rabies booster because they were already vaccinated against the disease. The dead raccoon did test positive for rabies. The vet advised this family to monitor their dogs closely for the next two weeks but did not recommend quarantine because there was no evidence of bite marks and they were already current on their rabies shots. [Note from the Editor: Thank you to readers who reminded me about this first case of rabies.]
The second case of rabies occurred in Molena in July. Click here to read about it. This herd of goats is still under observation at this time, and those who came in contact with the rabid goat have received the rabies vaccine as a preventative against the disease.
Rabies can occur in skunks, raccoons, coyotes, foxes and bats according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website. Wild animals with rabies sometimes infect dogs, cats, and livestock. State law requires the vaccination of dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies on a yearly basis.
If you notice any animals acting strangely or aggressively, do not approach them and call 911. If an animal suspected of rabies is killed, the head is must be preserved so it can be sent off for testing.
For more information about rabies, click here.