A rabid raccoon has been found in Martinez.
According to a press release from Columbia County, the raccoon was fighting two dogs on May 8 around the Rhodes Farm subdivision off Evans to Locks Road. The Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section was notified of the incident and sent the raccoon to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory in Decatur for rabies testing. The test confirmed the animal was positive for rabies.
The rabies vaccinations for the dogs are current.
The county health department is recommending that residents make sure any dogs and cats are up to date on rabies vaccines and recommend not allowing pets roam free. Free ranging pets have a better chance to come into contact with a wild animal that is rabid. The health department also encouraged to avoid feeding animals outside because this can draw in stray and wild animals. Children should be taught to not approach any wild animals or animals they don’t know.
Residents are asked to report any contact people and domestic animals have with wild animals to the Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section office at 706-868-3330 or Columbia County Animal Services at 706-868-3375.
For additional information on rabies, visit www.fda.gov or www.cdc.govncidod/dvrd/rabies.
