A Stapleton-area girl has begun anti-rabies therapies after she was bitten by a rabid fox close to her house Friday, Could 24.
Jefferson County Environmental Well being Specialist Robert Strickland stated that the lady was bitten on the foot whereas making an attempt to “shoo” a purple fox that was harassing her barn cats. The fox was killed by the lady's father after the incident. Strickland stated that he collected the carcass from their Quaker Highway tackle between Stapleton and Wrens the subsequent day and despatched it to the Georgia Public Well being Laboratory in Waycross, which confirmed the fox was optimistic for rabies.
Strickland stated that he can be checking again in on the concerned cats inside 10 days of the incident to see in the event that they gave the impression to be displaying any indicators of getting contracted the virus.
“Thankfully this (chunk) sufferer went straight to the Piedmont McDuffie ER in Thomson and the doctor there determined to go forward and begin the anti-rabies therapy, which is at all times a superb factor. I'm not medical, so I counsel, in case you are available contact with a wild animal like this, get recommendation out of your medical supplier as quickly as attainable.”
The rabies virus is lethal to people and Strickland stated that’s the reason his workplace takes these instances severely and has strict protocols relating to exposures. The virus will be transmitted anytime the pores and skin is damaged, he stated, by means of bites, scratches and different accidents.
That is the county's second confirmed case of rabies in a wild animal within the final month.
On Could 3 Strickland collected a raccoon that was killed throughout a struggle with a pet canine at a Cason Creek subdivision house exterior of Louisville. The canine was quarantined after the incident.
“This second case makes it very pertinent that it’s good to get your animals vaccinated,” Strickland stated. “Since we've had a rabid coon, coon hunters should be terrible cautious if they’re trapping. Be very leery of the way you launch animals from traps or in case you're out within the woods for any motive, in case you see a wild animal, don't nook it and keep away from contact. Let it go its means.”
In response to Division of Public Well being (DPH) protocol, after any home animal that has had its rabies vaccinations comes into contact with a rabid animal, it’s positioned in a 10-day quarantine.
“If the animal is up and working round after 10 days we might allow them to let it out, however we observe it once more after 45 days to make sure that no rabies was transmitted,” Strickland stated. “Often, if an animal carrying an energetic rabies virus, if it bites one other animal, that animal might be useless inside 10 days. That's how briskly the rabies pressure will transfer by means of one other animal.”
The native well being division is at present notifying residents within the space and advising them to keep away from contact with wild animals.
DPH recommends that residents be certain their pets are vaccinated towards rabies and obtain common boosters, pets are usually not allowed to roam free in areas they’re more likely to come into contact with wild animals, keep away from leaving meals exterior that might draw stray and wild animals to areas people frequent, and kids be taught to not strategy wild or stray animals they have no idea.
All residents of Jefferson County have been requested to report any contact of people and home animals with wild animals to Jefferson County Well being Division Environmental Well being Part workplace at 478-625-3716.
