The Georgia Department of Public Health and the Columbia County Health Department is alerting the community of rabid animals in the area.
On Sunday, June 26, a raccoon found on Columbia Road and Maple Creek Drive in Martinez tested positive for rabies.
Residents in this area should avoid contact with any stray or wild animals and should make sure that
their pets are current on their vaccinations.
“Animals with rabies may show a variety of signs, including fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering, paralysis and seizures. Aggressive behavior is common, but rabid animals may also be uncharacteristically affectionate. Horses and livestock with rabies also may exhibit depression, self mutilation, or increased sensitivity to light. Rabid wild animals may lose their natural fear of humans, and display unusual behavior; for example, an animal that is usually only seen at night may be seen wandering in the daytime,” according to the American Veterinary Medical Association website.
Anyone who sees animals exhibiting any of these symptoms, should contact the Columbia County Health Department at (706) 868-3330 or Columbia County Animal Services at (706) 541-4077.
