The Glynn County Health Department is alerting residents of Brunswick in Glynn County that a raccoon has tested positive for rabies. The raccoon was discovered in a homeowner’s shed on Blythe Island Highway on January 11, 2024, and there was an encounter between the raccoon and the family’s dog.
The racoon was captured, and the dog was taken to a local vet. The dog had previously been vaccinated against rabies and received its booster. The dog’s owners did not report having any physical contact with the raccoon. While captured, the racoon passed away.
The Glynn County Environmental Health office prepared the sample and delivered it to the lab on the morning of January 12, 2024. The positive rabies test result was reported at 2:00 p.m.
The dog’s owners have been contacted with the results, and the dog will be placed on a 45-day quarantine. The health department will provide guidance to the owners about post-exposure rabies treatment, encouraging them to follow the recommendations of poison control and their personal physician to determine the level of exposure they had to the racoon.
This is an important reminder to avoid contact with wild animals and to keep your pets up to date on rabies vaccinations. 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 potentially deadly virus that is primarily spread by infected animals.
The Glynn County Health Department 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.
