A
Rabies alert has been issued in Franklin and Gulf Counties.
The
Gulf County health Department issued a rabies alert on Thursday the
after they received confirmation of a rabid skunk in the Wewahitchka
area.
The
skunk was found off of County Road 381 in Wewahitchka.
The
Franklin County Health Department issued an
alert for Franklin County residents and visitors on Thursday after
being made aware of a wild caught raccoon being kept as a pet.
The
raccoon is a wild caught female that has been taken around the City
of Apalachicola on a leash and harness and potentially into public
establishments including bars, restaurants, and banks.
The
raccoon is currently unavailable for rabies testing and an unknown
number of individuals may have come into contact with the animal.
Due
to possible exposure of rabies, the Franklin County Health Department
is asking residents and visitors who may have been bitten or
scratched by this or any other raccoon to seek care promptly.
You
can call the health department at 653-2111 for more information.
Rabies
is a fatal disease it can be spread through a bite or scratch or even
through the saliva of an infected animal.
The
health department is urging all pet owners to make sure their animals
rabies shots are up to date.
Under
Florida law dogs and cats over 4 months of age must be currently
vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian.
An
animal with an expired rabies certificate is “unvaccinated.”
An
animal given their vaccine by a person other than a licensed
veterinarian is also considered “unvaccinated.”
To
avoid rabies, supervise your animals when they are outdoors. Don’t
let pets “roam the neighborhood.”
Stay
away from stray or wild animals! Do not touch dogs or cats that are
not yours.
Never
touch a bat and Never feed raccoons.
Raccoons
are a high-risk rabies vector and feeding them diminishes their fear
of humans and encourages them to frequent areas where they may come
into contact with your family or pets.
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