Grace McAlister
The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) in Suwannee County issued a rabies alert on Wednesday, Nov. 13, for the City of Live Oak, in response to a confirmed case of rabies in a cat. The alerted areas are US 90 to the north; White Avenue to the east; Helvenston Street to the south; and Ohio Avenue to the west.
In a release, FDOH stated that Live Oak residents and visitors should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population, and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. The FDOH is asking the public to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in the City of Live Oak, even outside the alerted areas.
Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:
- Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets.
- Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If a wild animal bites your pet, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact the local animal control agency.
- Call your local animal control agency to remove stray animals from your neighborhood.
- Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans 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 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 FDOH in Suwannee County at (386) 362-2708.
The rabies alert is active for 60 days. The center of the rabies alert is contained in the core business district in the City of Live Oak and includes approximately eight blocks, according to the FDOH release.
An animal with rabies could infect other wild or domestic animals that have not received their rabies vaccination. All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies. Additionally, wildlife contact should be avoided, especially with raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes. Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and can be fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Appropriate treatment started soon after the exposure will protect an exposed person from the disease, the release states.
For further information on rabies, go to floridahealth.gov or call the FDOH in Suwannee County at (386) 362-2708.