A dog in Gwinnett County has fallen victim to a rabid raccoon, raising alarms about the risk of rabies transmission to pets and humans. According to FOX5 Atlanta, the dog was bitten near the 1900 block of Stone Forest Drive in Lawrenceville on February 8th, with the raccoon later confirmed to be carrying the deadly virus.
Gwinnett County Health officials are now advising the public to stay vigilant and report any erratic behavior by wildlife particularly animals like raccoons and foxes that can easily transmit rabies through bites or scratches; this comes after the county's Animal Welfare and Enforcement and the Health Department made a joint statement urging residents to be cautious and ensure their pets are up-to-date on vaccinations, Atlanta News First reports.
The standard procedure outlined by the National Association of State Health Veterinarians dictates that unvaccinated dogs and cats exposed to a rabid animal must undergo a four-month quarantine, receiving a rabies vaccination one month before they are released. Gwinnett County officials have highlighted the dire importance of such measures given the nature of the rabies virus, which attacks the central nervous system and is nearly always fatal in humans if left untreated.
For any residents who have experienced bites or scratches from an unknown or potentially infected animal, immediate care is critical officials say fever, headache, and general weakness are early symptoms to watch for in humans. Following any potential exposure, individuals should seek medical attention and then contact the Gwinnett County Health Department at (770) 339-4260 to consult with the on-call epidemiologist.
To assist with animal control and rabies prevention, residents should report any animal bites to the Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Bite Office at (770) 339-3200, ext. 5576, or for incidents occurring outside of standard business hours, call the non-emergency dispatch at (770) 513-5700.
