How To Steer Clear of Rabies

The Environmental Health Division of the Rabun County Health Department issues tips for keeping you and your pet safe from the rabies virus.

James Reese says avoidance is your first line of defense.

“It’s naturally occurring in the wild, so whenever you do encounter a wild animal, please avoid it. If it’s walking through your yard, give it a a wide berth.”

Reese says that rabies is transmitted through saliva, so if you or your pet do come into contact with a wild animal that could be rabid, to please contact the health department.

“We do an investigative work up with them, figure out what their risk is of contracting the disease, and what steps they need to take. If it’s a dog bit incident, we try to locate the animal, and we’ll do a ten day confinement to make sure the dog didn’t have rabies.”

Reese concluded with a reminder to watch out for bats.

“Of the last fifteen years in the United States, every human related case of rabies has been through bats.”