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- Use caution around wild animals behaving oddly; they can transmit rabies through bites or scratches.
- Ensure pets are current on rabies vaccination; per National Association of State Health Veterinarians, exposed unvaccinated pets require a four month quarantine.
- Rabies attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal in humans without treatment, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- If bitten or scratched by stray or suspected rabid animals, seek immediate medical care and preventive treatment.
- Report unusual animal behavior to Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement or call GNR Public Health for epidemiologist guidance.
Public advised to use caution around animals acting oddly
A bat tested positive for rabies after it was found deceased in a residence on Aug. 28 near Stockton Walk Lane in Snellville.
Diseases like rabies can be transmitted to humans and pets through bites or scratches from wild animals such as foxes and bats. Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement and GNR Public Health advise residents to use caution and avoid animals behaving in unusual ways.
All pet owners should ensure that their pets are current on rabies vaccination. According to the National Association of State Health Veterinarians, unvaccinated dogs and cats exposed to a rabid animal must be strictly quarantined for four months and vaccinated one month prior to being released.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rabies virus attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal in humans if untreated. Early symptoms of rabies in people include fever, headache and general weakness or discomfort.
If you have been bitten or scratched by any stray animals or suspected rabid animal, immediate preventive treatment is necessary.
Please seek medical care immediately and inform the health care provider of the exposure. Then, contact GNR Public Health at 770.339.4260 and ask for the on-call epidemiologist.
To report an animal behaving in an unusual way and have it picked up, please call the Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Bite Office at 770.339.3200, ext. 5576.
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