Rabies Alert Issued in Flagler County, Florida due to Positive Cat Case

Flagler County, Florida - The Florida Department of Health has issued a rabies alert in parts of Flagler County following a positive test for rabies in a cat on March 15th. The alert is set to last for 60 days and is centered around Poince Place in Palm Coast. The boundaries included in the alert cover various areas in Flagler County.

The health department warns that an animal infected with rabies could potentially infect other animals that have not received a rabies vaccination. Domestic animals are particularly at risk if they have not been vaccinated, emphasizing the continued danger of rabies in wild animal populations.

While rabies alerts are not uncommon, the Department of Health has already recorded a significant number of possible rabies exposure cases in Florida this year. As of Wednesday, there have been 1,565 cases, with Broward County reporting 136 cases, Miami Dade with 125 cases, and Flagler County recording three cases.

However, it is essential to note that there have been no reported cases of human rabies in Florida this year, and Rabies alerts, while serious, highlight the need for caution rather than panic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that human rabies cases in the United States are rare, with only one to three cases reported annually. Over the past decade, there have been 25 cases, two of which resulted in survival. It is worth mentioning that these infections were acquired outside of the U.S. and its territories.

Rabies, which can be transmitted through dog bites, bat encounters, and raccoon encounters, has seen a decline in human fatalities in the United States since the 70s, thanks to animal control and vaccination programs, outreach efforts, public health capacity, laboratory diagnostics, and the availability of modern rabies treatments.

Nevertheless, the potential exposure to rabies raises serious concerns and should not be taken lightly. In the event of a bite or scratch by a wild or domestic animal, individuals are urged to seek medical attention and report the injury to the DOH-Flagler at 386-437-7358. If a pet is bitten by a wild animal, immediate veterinary assistance must be sought, and Animal Control - Flagler Humane Society can be contacted at 386-246-8612.

Rabies is a fatal disease that affects the nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The only treatment available for human exposure to rabies is rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Prompt and appropriate treatment can protect the exposed person from the disease.

To prevent exposure to rabies, residents and visitors are advised to take precautions such as avoiding contact with wildlife, refraining from adopting or bringing wild animals into their homes, and avoiding handling unfamiliar animals. Furthermore, keeping rabies vaccinations up to date for pets, supervising pets to prevent contact with wild animals, and preventing bats from entering living spaces are strongly recommended.

For more information on rabies, individuals can visit FloridaHealth.gov, where they can find additional resources and guidance regarding the disease.