Days after three people were bitten by a rabid fox in Blatte and someone encountered a rabid bat in Escambia County, Florida, officials announced someone had been exposed to a rabid bat near Frommaton.
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) confirmed Wednesday a case of rabies in the Frommaton neighborhood.
Dr. Dee W. Jones, Alabama Public Health Veterinarian, said, “Given the current outbreak of rabies-infected animals in the same general area, this means that all pets should be properly vaccinated against rabies.” It’s a stark reminder that you need to be vaccinated.”
Last Friday, the Florida Department of Health (DOH-Escambia) issued a rabies alert for Escambia County, Florida, following three confirmed exposures to rabies foxes and one to a rabies bat.
The Escambia Health Department did not specify the location, but NorthEscambia.com independently confirmed that three people were bitten by a rabid fox in Brat, a public area of Northview High School and Travis Nelson Park.
“Rabies is a potentially deadly disease. It is important not to handle wild animals, beware of animals with unusual behavior and keep pets vaccinated against rabies,” said the DOH-Escambia administrator. Marie Mott said.
Mott recommends the following precautions:
- Keep rabies vaccines up to date for all pets and at-risk livestock.
- Do not leave your pets unattended. Keep pets and livestock safe on your property and follow lead laws. If your pet or livestock has been bitten by a wild animal, seek immediate veterinary attention and call Escambia County Animal Services at (850) 595-0097.
- Support animal management to reduce wild and stray animal populations.
- Spay or neuter pets to reduce the number of unwanted pets that do not receive proper care and routine vaccinations.
- Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wildlife to outdoor food sources such as uncovered litter or trash.
- Do not adopt or bring wild animals into your home.
- Teach your children that they should never handle unfamiliar animals, whether wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
- Keep bats out of living quarters and occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and similar areas where bats can come in contact with people and pets.
- If you are bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal, seek medical attention and report the damage to DOH-Escambia at (850) 595-6700.
