NEAR DALTON, A 6 YEAR OLD BOY WAS ATTACKED BY A RABID RACCOON AS HE PLAYED AT THE AL ROLLINS PARK TUESDAY.  HIS FATHER WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE ANIMAL FOR TESTING… AND AUTHORITIES BELIEVE AT LEAST ONE OTHER CHILD MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED OR BITTEN.  THEY ARE WALKING NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR THE PARK TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE ELSE WHO CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ANIMAL GETS THE NECESSARY TREATMENT TO PREVENT RABIES.

THE NORTHWEST GEORGIA PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT SAYS CASES OF RABIES HAVE MADE A "SLIGHT UPTICK" RECENTLY…. AND HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE URGING CITIZENS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT INFECTION.TIM ALLEE, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR FOR THE DISTRICT, SAID "WE’RE REMINDING RESIDENTS TO VACCINATE ALL DOMESTIC ANIMALS, PARTICULARLY DOGS AND CATS… AND TO AVOID EXPOSURE TO RACCOONS, FOXES, SKUNKS AND BATS.

HE SAID IT’S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO LEAVE PET FOODS OUTSIDE.  THIS CAN ATTRACT RACCOONS, THE NUMBER ONE RABIES CARRIER… EVEN IN URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.
ANYONE NOTING A RACCOON, FOX, BAT OR SKUNK THAT IS OUT DURING THE DAY OR BEHAVING STRANGELY… SHOULD REPORT THE SITING TO THE LOCAL GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES GAME AND FISH DIVISION OFFICE, AND IF BATS ARE FOUND INSIDE THE HOME… THEY SHOULD BE CAPTURED IF POSSIBLE – AND TESTED FOR RABIES.

 

WQCH