Rabies alert issued for southeast Washington County

The Florida Department of Health has issued a rabies alert for the Greenhead area in southeast Washington County near Rattlesnake Pond. This is in response to a fox testing positive for rabies recently near this geographic location.

The following recreation sites managed by the Northwest Florida Water Management District are within the alert area: Rattlesnake Lake South, Rattlesnake Lake North, Pine Ridge Equestrian Trail, Florida National Scenic Trail, and Hammock Lake.

Visitors to the following recreation sites should also exercise caution: Whitewater Lake, Tom Johns Landing, Williford Spring, and Pitt Spring.

The recent rabies alert is for 60 days.

All residents and visitors in Washington County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Washington County. Alerts are designed to increase awareness to the public, but they should not give a false sense of security to areas that have not been named as under an alert.

An animal with rabies could infect other wild animals or domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies. All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies and all wildlife contact should be avoided, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes. Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is 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.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

• Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets and at-risk livestock.
• Do not allow your pets to run free. Follow leash laws by keeping pets and livestock secured on your property.  If your pet or livestock are bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 850-265-3676.
• Support animal control in efforts to reduce feral and stray animal populations.
• Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with outdoor food sources such as uncovered trash 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 occupied 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 DOH-Washington at 850-638-6240.

For further information on rabies, go to http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/rabies/index.html, or contact DOH-Washington at 850-638-6240.