A victim of raging otter in Miami-Dade; Rabies alerts issued

KENDALL, FL – After raising the rabies alert in the Kendall area earlier this week, health officials announced Wednesday that an enraged otter bit a person and at least three other people have probably been exposed to the deadly disease in the area. Meanwhile, a seventh raccoon has also been tested positive and two new rabies alerts have been issued in the Kendall area. Alerts will be in effect for 60 days.

"The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (DOH-Miami-Dade) has received confirmation of a seventh raccoon whose rabies screening test was positive in the same area." Kendall, "according to officials. "Although the rabies alert has been lifted, it will now be extended for 60 days to end on January 19, 2019."

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Health officials said the otter who bit the person died. No information on the victim has been published.

The previous Kendall alert that has been reinstated covers the following limitations:

• SW 152nd Street North
• SW 187th Street South
• SW 117th Avenue to the east
• N / A 137th Avenue to the west

A new Kendall alert covers these additional limits:

• SW 144th Street North
• SW 184th Street South
• Biscayne Bay to the east
• US 1 to the west

A separate Rabies Alert remains in effect for the North Miami Beach area within the following boundaries:

• NE 186th street north,
• Royal Glades Canal to the south,
• West Dixie Hwy to the east,
• NE 19th Avenue to the west

According to the World Health Organization, rabies is an infectious viral disease almost always fatal as a result of the appearance of clinical signs.

The Florida Department of Health said the virus could spread to unvaccinated animals, which posed a high risk to the owner of the animal and his family.

Here are some tips from the Ministry of Health to avoid exposure:

• Keep rabies vaccination up to date for all pets.
• Keep your pets under direct supervision so that they do not come into contact with wild animals and contact Miami-Dade Animal Services at 3-1-1 if you have any concerns.
• Call 3-1-1 to report stray dogs in your neighborhood or private property. Homeowners can hire a pest trapper to eliminate wild animals.
• If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, immediately consult a veterinarian and contact the Miami-Dade Animal Service at 3-1-1.
• Do not handle, feed, or accidentally extract wild animals with open garbage cans or bins.
• Do not let food sources be safe from fires such as pet food or unsafe garbage.
• Avoid contact with strays and wild animals.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
• Teach children never to handle unknown animals, whether they are wild or domestic, even if they seem friendly.
• Prevent bats from entering living rooms or occupied areas of houses, churches, schools and other similar places where they may come into contact with people or pets.
• Persons who have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek medical attention and report the injury to the Florida Department of Health, Miami-Dade County, at 305-324-2400.

"The only treatment against human exposure to rabies is rabies-specific immunoglobulin and rabies vaccination," health officials warned. "Appropriate treatment started soon after exposure will protect an exposed person from the disease."

For more information on rabies, click here, call 305-324-2400 or the Miami-Dade County Animal Service at 3-1-1.

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