Vicki
Administrator
Another rabid raccoon, another dog quarantined
Staff Report
Published: February 2, 2010
Another raccoon has tested positive for rabies, the second this month in Jackson County, and the second to be identified after fighting with a dog.
The latest was found after a fight with a dog on Maddox Road south of Marianna, near the Calhoun County line.
The first was on Granberry Road near Cypress.
The dog in the latest incident has been quarantined at home for observation and to prevent possible spread of the disease, in the event the canine was infected.
The raccoon was picked up by Jackson County Health Department staff on Jan. 28. A health department lab in Pensacola shortly confirmed the raccoon was rabid.
In a press release about the incident, County Environmental Health Director T.G. Harkrider urged the public to call authorities if they suspect a rabid animal has tangled with their pets or humans.
Anyone having knowledge of bites or other exposure from a suspected rabid animal to humans or domestic animals should immediately contact the health department at 482-9227 during normal working hours, he wrote.
There is an after-hours answering service which can be reached at night and on weekends. That number is 526-2412.
“Please call us with information and questions related to exposure. We need to act quickly in some cases to save people’s lives,†Harkrider said in the release.
Harkrider also advised people what to do in case of an incident.
“Never shoot a biting animal in the head,†he said. “An intact brain is needed to determine if the animal is rabid. If you shoot them in the head and destroy the brain, we have to assume the animal was rabid. Without negative lab results, treatment to the victim has to begin.â€
Harkrider also reminded pet owners that county and state laws require vaccination of all dogs and cats.
http://www2.jcfloridan.com/jcf/news...rabid_raccoon_another_dog_quarantined/127092/
Staff Report
Published: February 2, 2010
Another raccoon has tested positive for rabies, the second this month in Jackson County, and the second to be identified after fighting with a dog.
The latest was found after a fight with a dog on Maddox Road south of Marianna, near the Calhoun County line.
The first was on Granberry Road near Cypress.
The dog in the latest incident has been quarantined at home for observation and to prevent possible spread of the disease, in the event the canine was infected.
The raccoon was picked up by Jackson County Health Department staff on Jan. 28. A health department lab in Pensacola shortly confirmed the raccoon was rabid.
In a press release about the incident, County Environmental Health Director T.G. Harkrider urged the public to call authorities if they suspect a rabid animal has tangled with their pets or humans.
Anyone having knowledge of bites or other exposure from a suspected rabid animal to humans or domestic animals should immediately contact the health department at 482-9227 during normal working hours, he wrote.
There is an after-hours answering service which can be reached at night and on weekends. That number is 526-2412.
“Please call us with information and questions related to exposure. We need to act quickly in some cases to save people’s lives,†Harkrider said in the release.
Harkrider also advised people what to do in case of an incident.
“Never shoot a biting animal in the head,†he said. “An intact brain is needed to determine if the animal is rabid. If you shoot them in the head and destroy the brain, we have to assume the animal was rabid. Without negative lab results, treatment to the victim has to begin.â€
Harkrider also reminded pet owners that county and state laws require vaccination of all dogs and cats.
http://www2.jcfloridan.com/jcf/news...rabid_raccoon_another_dog_quarantined/127092/