[PNG, 15.21 KB]

The Glynn County Health Department is alerting residents that a raccoon has tested positive for rabies in Brunswick. On September 8, the raccoon entered a residential backyard in a neighborhood near the Glynn Isles Shopping Center and confronted a family dog. Fortunately, the dog is current on its rabies vaccination and was not seriously injured. No humans were exposed to the rabid raccoon.

This is an important reminder to avoid contact with wild animals and ensure your pets get regular rabies shots.

Several species of wild animals in coastal Georgia – including raccoons, foxes, and bats – can carry rabies. Feral cats and dogs can carry rabies as well. Rabies is a deadly virus that is primarily spread by infected animals.

The Glynn County Health Department’s Environmental Health office has these tips to protect you and your family from rabies:

• Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
• Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Dogs and cats should get rabies vaccines after 12 weeks of age, followed by a booster shot within one year and vaccination every 1-3 years depending on veterinary recommendation and vaccine used.
• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out at night.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or a properly licensed animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.

Symptoms of rabies in animals include a change in behavior, biting, aggression, showing no fear of natural enemies (such as humans), foaming at the mouth, and paralysis. If an animal ever bites you, seek medical care immediately and contact Glynn County Animal Control at 912-554-7500 and the Glynn County Health Department Environmental Health office at 912-279-2940.

The following public service announcement was issued by the Glynn County government on August 22, 2024.

Glynn County Public Works was notified on the evening of Thursday, August 22 by Vector Disease Control International (VDCI), the Mosquito Control contractor, of positive mosquito pool test results for West Nile virus in two neighborhoods in Glynn County.

The samples were collected at North Harrington (St. Simons Island) and Selden Park (Brunswick) by VDCI and tested by Research Associates Laboratory.

Following the positive test results, VDCI began their Expanded Transmission Protocols which includes the following:

1. The locations described will serve as the area where inspection, sampling, and control efforts will be conducted.
2. VDCI personnel will be assigned to inspect these areas. The purpose of the search will be to locate vector mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex nigripalpus) breeding sites. Once located, VDCI will treat the larvae.
3. Gravid Traps will be used to sample the adult mosquito population within the area. The number of mosquitoes collected will serve to quantify the adult population and provide specimens for testing.
4. During the evening hours, truck mounted sprayers will be assigned to spray this area to reduce the vector population below the critical level. Three consecutive spray applications will be made. The first application was conducted on the evening of August 21st, and a second application was conducted in the early hours of August 22nd. One more application will be done on the evening of the 22nd, weather permitting.
5. The effectiveness of this operation will be determined using Gravid Traps that will be set up following the spray efforts. The number of mosquitoes collected will serve to quantify the adult population and provide specimens to be submitted for testing in our laboratory. Elevated abatement operations will continue until vector mosquito numbers fall below established threshold levels.

The positive tests were discovered in mosquitoes; there are not any reported human cases in Glynn County at this time. Glynn County has notified the Georgia Coastal Health District of these positive tests. Public Works, along with VDCI, will continue to remain vigilant monitoring ongoing test results. We will also ensure additional information, and any additional positive tests are quickly shared with the public.