- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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Jasper, GA – On Friday, April 19, the Pickens County Environmental Health office was notified that two residents were attacked by a rabies-infected stray cat in the Bethany-Salem area. The incident occurred at a home in the vicinity of Mountain Lake Drive off Henderson Mountain Road, prompting immediate action from county Animal Control.
Upon investigating the incident, Animal Control discovered that the same stray cat that attacked the two individuals in the Mountain Lake Drive area had also bitten another person nearby in the area of South Woods Court. Suspecting rabies, Animal Control took the cat to a local veterinarian for testing.
Subsequent tests confirmed the cat's positive rabies status. Therefore, all three bite victims are now undergoing necessary post-exposure treatment. Reports of stray cats in the area have raised concerns, prompting Pickens County Environmental Health officials to issue an alert urging residents to be vigilant.
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- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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Residents Reminded: Guard Against Any Potentially Rabid Wildlife
Ellijay, GA - The Gilmer County Environmental Health office has received reports this week of sick raccoons in the Blackberry Mountain subdivision area on the east side of Gilmer County. Residents are reminded to guard against any potentially rabid wildlife.
The rabies virus can be present in almost all wild mammals, including but not exclusive to foxes, skunks, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, wild dogs, feral cats, and bats.
Rabies symptoms in an animal can include but are not limited to unsteady or 'wobbly' behavior, circling or pacing movements, paralysis, dragging back legs, excessive drooling, aggression, lethargy, etc.
We caution the public not to approach or attempt to rescue any wildlife. Touching wildlife could injure you, putting you at risk of contracting the rabies virus. Should an incident occur resulting in you or your pet having direct contact with a wild animal (i.e., a bite, scratch, etc.), please notify the Gilmer County Environmental Health office at (706) 635-6050.
If the animal that potentially exposed you or your pet to the rabies virus is available for testing, local environmental health officials will arrange to obtain the animal from you.
Under any circumstance in which a potentially rabies-infected animal injures you, do not hesitate to seek immediate medical treatment. Rabies is almost always fatal if not treated in time.
For more information about rabies, please refer to 'Rabies - Frequently Asked Questions' on the Georgia Department of Public Health website at dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health/rabies.
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- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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Chatsworth, GA – Murray County Environmental Health officials have reported a possible rabies exposure incident involving a young child in the Will Evans Road area. The incident occurred on the evening of Thursday, June 15, and was reported to Environmental Health the following morning.
According to reports, the child was playing with a sibling in their yard when a fox appeared. The child was startled and fell upon seeing the fox, which then charged toward the child. The child kicked the animal, and the parents cornered it before calling the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DNR officers arrived and put the fox down.
After the incident, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) examined the child, who had sustained an abrasion on their foot from kicking the fox while wearing sandals. Jason Baum, Murray County Environmental Health Manager, advised the child's mother of the steps needed if the animal tested positive for rabies.
On Wednesday, June 21, the Georgia Public Health Lab confirmed that the fox had tested positive for rabies. Baum recommended that the child begin the post-exposure vaccination process, and the mother took the child to the ER that night.
Baum also recommended that other family members who were there seek advice from Georgia Poison Control regarding their possible exposure to the virus during the incident and any treatment recommendations. However, Baum deemed their risk of exposure and the family cat's risk to be low based on the circumstances.
Environmental Health officials are distributing notices in the area advising residents to be cautious of wild animals, including strays, especially those that exhibit strange behaviors, and to ensure their pets and livestock are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. If residents have sightings or exposures to such animals, they should call the Murray County Environmental Health office at (706) 695-0266.
We want to remind the public of the importance of vaccinating their pets against rabies to prevent the spread of the virus. Our thoughts are with the child and their family during this difficult time.
Read Rabies Notice to Residents Near Area of Incident
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