A rabies outbreak in St. Johns County has prompted health officials to issue an alert after a cat tested positive for the disease. The Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County confirmed the case in an unvaccinated cat found in the Old Moultrie Road area off State Road 207 on June 9. This has led to increased monitoring of rabies among wild animals in the vicinity. First Coast News reported that the Department is urging all residents and visitors to be aware that "rabies is currently present in the wild animal population."
The rabies alert, which will last for the next 60 days, encompasses a specific area with defined boundaries. To the north, the alert extends up to King St.; southward, it reaches State Road 312; the eastern border is outlined by the Intracoastal Waterway; and to the western side, Osceola Elementary Road marks the limit. According to the information given by Action News Jax, the community is asked to supervise their pets closely and keep them on a leash to mitigate the risk of exposure.
Local officials are emphasizing the need for vigilance and advising residents to take several precautions to protect themselves and their pets. Notably, avoiding contact with wild and stray animals is strongly advised, and any such interactions that result in bites or scratches should be immediately followed by medical attention. News4Jax highlighted that "People and pets should avoid contact with wild animals, as they carry a higher risk of human exposure and require rabies post-exposure treatment." Additionally, they remind the public that wildlife should never be adopted or brought into homes, but rather reported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
St. Johns County Animal Control is the agency to call for handling animal bites, with their number being 904-209-0746. They are also responsible for removing stray animals from neighborhood to assist in controlling the spread of rabies. Residents are further encouraged to secure their trash and pet food to avoid attracting potential rabid animals. Such preventive measures are crucial to avoid the disease transmission to humans and domestic animals, maintaining the safety of the community.
