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The Alabama Department of Public Health is warning Alabamians to watch out for wildlife after a Cullman County raccoon tested positive for rabies.
According to ADPH, the raccoon attacked a person on a walking trail near a housing estate on Fox Hollow Road in Cullman. The animal was also showing neurological signs of illness before being restrained, restrained and collected for rabies testing, which came back positive.
Following an investigation by the Cullman County Health Department, three people were potentially exposed and received post-exposure treatment for rabies to prevent infection.
See also: Birmingham was once the “rabies capital of North America”
Rabies is a virus transmitted through saliva. In general, exposure to rabies requires direct contact with infected saliva, usually through a bite or scratch. Other less common exposures through contact with mucous membranes, eyes, nose and mouth are also considered serious.
Dee W. Jones, the state’s public health veterinarian, said wild animals pose the greatest risk of rabies and can infect pets and domestic animals. They should be avoided if possible, especially when the infected animal is acting strangely or aggressively.
Animals bitten or scratched by a rabid animal are usually treated with a rabies booster vaccine and a short period of quarantine. Getting pets vaccinated is the best way to ensure animals are protected from such encounters with a rabid animal, Jones said. A rabies-exposed pet that is currently vaccinated is very unlikely to develop rabies and is allowed to undergo a much less strict quarantine after a booster dose.
It is recommended that the inhabitants of the district:
- Don’t let animals run free.
- Do not leave uneaten pet food or waste near your home.
- Do not illegally feed or keep wild animals as pets.
- Stay away from wild or domestic animals that behave in strange or unusual ways.
- Warn children not to approach stray or wild animals, regardless of the animal’s behavior.
- Advise children to tell an adult if they have been bitten or scratched by an animal.
A person bitten or scratched by an animal should wash the wounds immediately with mild soap and water, apply first aid and seek medical attention or contact the county health department immediately.
Alabama state law requires dogs, cats, and ferrets 12 weeks and older to be up to date with rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccines are also available for horses and other livestock, upon recommendation of a veterinarian.
For more information, contact ADPH at (334) 206-5100 or visit the website.
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