Local Impact Spotlight:
- Ensure pets receive rabies vaccines: first after 12 weeks, booster within one year, then every 1 to 3 years per your veterinarian.
- Do not handle, feed, or domesticate wild animals; secure garbage and pet food; teach children "Love your own, leave other animals alone".
- If bitten, seek medical care immediately and contact Liberty County Animal Services at 912-876-9191 and Environmental Health at 912-368-5520.
The Liberty County Health Department is alerting residents that a raccoon in Midway has tested positive for rabies. This is an important reminder to avoid contact with unfamiliar animals and keep pets up to date on rabies vaccination.
A resident of the Lake George area of Midway noticed a raccoon behaving strangely and contacted the Liberty County Health Department. The raccoon tested positive for the rabies virus on Friday, May 1. Fortunately, there was no known contact between the raccoon and any humans or pets.
Rabies is a deadly virus primarily spread through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. In coastal Georgia, rabies can circulate in wildlife such as raccoons, foxes, and bats. Residents are urged not to feed or attempt to domesticate wild animals or feral cats. Pet owners should ensure their pets stay current on rabies vaccinations.
To protect yourself and your family from rabies, the Liberty County Health Department’s Environmental Health office offers the following tips:
- Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
- Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Dogs and cats should get rabies vaccines after 12 weeks of age, followed by a booster shot within one year and vaccination every 1-3 years depending on veterinary recommendation.
- Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out at night.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or a properly licensed animal rescue agency for assistance.
- Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.
Symptoms of rabies in animals include a change in behavior, biting, aggression, showing no fear of natural enemies (such as humans), foaming at the mouth, and paralysis. If an animal ever bites you, seek medical care immediately and contact Liberty County Animal Services at 912-876-9191 and the Liberty County Health Department Environmental Health office at 912-368-5520.
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