60 Day Rabies Alert Issued For Brevard County Residents

Contact:
Helen Medlin BSN RN
Helen.Medlin@flhealth.gov
321-615-9597

The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County (DOH-Brevard) issued a rabies alert for the area of Alma Blvd and Clarence Court, Merritt Island. This is in response to an adopted stray cat that tested positive on 12/15/2019.

All residents and visitors in Brevard County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Brevard County. Alerts are designed to increase awareness to the public. Please be aware that rabies activities can also occur outside the alert area.

This rabies alert is for 60 days. The center of the rabies alert is at Woody Simpson Park area in Merritt Island, and includes the following boundaries in Brevard County:

  • Crockett Blvd to the North
  • N Courtenay Pkwy to the East
  • North Tropical and to the East
  • Grove Blvd to the South

An animal with rabies could infect domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies. All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies and all wildlife contact should be avoided, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and coyotes. Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm blooded animals and humans. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Appropriate treatment started soon after the exposure will protect an exposed person from the disease.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Support animal control in efforts to reduce feral and stray animal populations.
  • Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
  • Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.
  • Persons who have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek medical attention and report the injury to Brevard County Animal Services at 321-633-2024.

For further information on rabies, go to http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/rabies/index.html

Article Source – http://brevard.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2019/12/rabies-alert-2019-12-16.html

Health officials urge you to:

  • Avoid feeding, touching, or attracting wildlife;
  • Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home;
  • Teach children not to handle unfamiliar animals;
  • Make sure your pets have their rabies vaccinations. They should avoid all contact with wildlife, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and coyotes.

Rabies is fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans. The only treatments are a rabies vaccination or an immune globulin administered soon after exposure. If you or a pet have been bitten or scratched by an animal, seek medical attention.

If you have questions, contact the Brevard Health Department at 321-634-6337 or Brevard County Animal Services at 321-633-2024. – Orlando News 13