Summer has just officially begun, yet Richmond and Aiken counties have both reported a confirmed case of rabies.
Rabies is not confined to the summer months, but longer days and warm weather can put people, and pets, in closer proximity to wildlife.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe rabies as a fatal, but preventable viral disease. All mammals can contract rabies, but the vectors often seen in the United States include bats, racoons, skunks and foxes. Opossums are believed to be the only mammal that does not contract the virus.
The Richmond County Health Department Environmental Health Section released information about a June 9 incident when county resident was attacked by a fox passing through the victim’s yard. Augusta Animal Services collected the fox which was sent to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for testing. The health department reported the fox was positive for rabies a week following the attack. The incident happened near Lake Olmstead. Residents in the area were notified to avoid contact with wild animals.
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In Aiken County, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Control says a bat found on May 26 near Robinhood Trail and Mockingbird Lane tested positive for rabies. One person was exposed and was referred to their healthcare provider.
Terri McCollister, Rabies Program Team Leader at DHEC, said rabies in bats presents a particular challenge.
“People don’t always realize they or a pet have been bitten since bat teeth are tiny and bites are easy to overlook,” she said. “Because of this, you should always assume a person or pet has potentially been bitten when they wake to find a bat in their room or tent, a bat is found where children, pets and persons with impaired mental capacity (intoxicated or mentally disabled) have been left unattended or a person has been in direct contact with a bat.
The Aiken case is among 31 cases of rabies across the Palmetto State so far this year.
Less than a year ago, DHEC was dealing with two confirmed cases locally, one in Aiken County and one in Edgefield County. Both were found in late July.
The Aiken County case was in the Hammond Hills neighborhood in North Augusta. A woman notified the North Augusta Department of Public Safety a fox had attacked her dog in their backyard. The fox bit the dog’s tail. Officers located and euthanized the fox.
The fox was sent to DHEC’S lab for testing on July 28 and confirmed to have rabies. The dog was current on its rabies vaccination but still had to be quarantined for 45 days.
In Edgefield County, a puppy from a litter born in Johnston was submitted for testing on July 19 and confirmed with the virus the next day. DHEC identified 25 people who were exposed, along with six dogs.
DHEC, along with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, recently issued an advisory urging people not to keep wild animals as pets.
“Wild animals can be dangerous by nature, so they have the potential to seriously injure the owner, children, or guests without warning through bites or scratches,” said McCollister. “This behavior can also be triggered when an otherwise peaceful animal is startled, injured or sick. Bite wounds and scratches from animals can become infected which may lead to severe illness needing medical care.”
The advisory was issued after a racoon that had been kept as a pet for 11 years tested positive for rabies in York County.
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The rabies virus infects the central nervous system. If a person is exposed and does not seek immediate medical attention, it can cause disease in the brain and ultimately result in death. Healthcare providers can recommend a series of shots to help prevent a person from becoming sick with rabies after exposure, however the treatment can cost upwards of $10,000.
Officials said the best way to protect a pet is to make sure it is always up-to-date on all vaccinations, especially rabies. Pets should also be kept away from wildlife as much as possible.
The CDC website has information about rabies at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html
Georgia DPH’s webpage with information about the virus is at https://dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health/rabies. It includes a fact sheet, FAQ and a manual explaining the virus.
DHEC’s webpage, https://scdhec.gov/health/diseases-conditions/insect-or-animal-borne-disease/rabies, includes information on statewide vaccination clinics.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
