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Panama City, Florida – The Florida Department of Health in Bay County is expanding its rabies alert issued earlier in March. Now that four cases of rabies have been confirmed in the space of one month, the alert concerns the entire Bay County, officials said in a press release.
The rabies alert lasts 60 days. Rabies is a deadly viral infection of the nervous system that is transmitted from one animal to another or from one human to another by biting, scratching, or exposing mucous membranes to infected saliva. .
The recent case involved an enraged raccoon killed by dogs near Oakenshaw Drive between Highway 2301 and Camp Flowers Road in Youngstown. Another raccoon was also killed by a dog in Callaway on Sukoshi Drive, off Highway 22 in February. The initial warning against rabies sent earlier in March concerned only part of northern Bay County. Two gray foxes have been tested positive for rabies in this region, one at the northern end of Resota Beach Road and the other at Proper Road, east of Lake Merial.
Florida law requires that dogs and cats four months of age or older be vaccinated by a licensed rabies veterinarian. Unvaccinated dogs and cats must be kept indoors. Cats are the pets most likely to be infected with rabies. Keep the cats indoors. Do not touch wild animals, cats or stray dogs. No animal is too young to have rabies.
Operation Spay Bay will offer free rabies vaccines for dogs and cats on Saturday, March 16th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at Sharon Sheffield Park, 901 Ohio Avenue, Lynn Haven. The Spay Bay operation will also offer other shots and will test a low cost. This includes; tempera for $ 10, kennel cough for $ 10, heartworm test for $ 10 and FVRCP for $ 10. For more information, call 850-215-1022 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
The Florida Department of Health reminds citizens that it is forbidden to feed raccoons unintentionally or unintentionally. It is forbidden in Florida. Feed the dogs and cats indoors and cover the trash. The diet of raccoons concentrates them at abnormally high densities and increases the risk of transmission of rabies virus from one raccoon to another and from raccoon to dogs, cats and humans. Infected raccoons may look normal. Relocating an infected raccoon can spread rabies.
If bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water. See a doctor if necessary and report the injury to the Florida Department of Health, Bay County, at (850) 872-4455. If the animal is wandering or wild, call 911 or the Bay County Animal Service at (850) 767-3333 and report its location. In Lynn Haven, call the Lynn Haven Police Department at (850) 265-1112. To follow. Rabies is preventable when treatment is administered quickly.
The following advice is issued:
• If your dog or cat is fighting with a wild animal, immediately contact the Bay County Florida Department of Health. The wild animal will have to be tested for rabies. Your pet may need to be quarantined. Do not shoot animals suspected of being rabid in the head.
• Do not touch animals that do not belong to you. Avoid contact with wildlife, especially raccoons, bats, bobcats, otters, foxes, skunks and coyotes. No animal is too young to have rabies. A rabid animal can act friendly.
• Wear rubber gloves and goggles when dressing / skinning wild animals to avoid exposure to rabies and other diseases.
• Cook all meat at 165 degrees.
• Do not hunt animals that look sick.
• For general inquiries about stray animals or wild animals, contact the animal control service in your area.
• For questions about the health of a pet, contact a veterinarian.
• Teach your children rabies and NEVER touch a bat!
For more information on rabies, visit the website of the Florida Department of Health at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/medicine/rabies/rabies -index.html or contact the Florida Department of Health in Bay County. at 850-872-4720 or follow us on Twitter @FLHealthEmerald.
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