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Rabies Alert Issued in Hillsborough County

Rabies | Pets | Animals

A domestic cat recently tested positive for rabies.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County has issued a rabies alert for the area near Pinnacle Heights Circle in the Tampa zip code area of 33624.

The alert is in response to a domestic cat (domestic short hair orange tabby) that recently tested positive for rabies.

All residents of Hillsborough County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. The health department is asking residents to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Hillsborough County.

This is the third case of rabies in the county this year, the first two cases were reported in the Lutz area . Alerts are designed to increase awareness to the public, but they should not give a false sense of security to areas that have not been named as under an alert.

The rabies alert is for 60 days. The center of the rabies alert is at Pinnacle Heights Circle Tampa, 33624, and includes these area boundaries:

Ehrlich Road on the north
Casey Road / S Village Drive on the east
State Highway 587 on the south
Farmington Boulevard /Canopy Creek Drive on the west

An animal with rabies could infect other wild animals or domestic animals thathave not been vaccinated against rabies. All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies and all wildlife contact should be avoided,particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes.Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans.

The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Appropriate treatment started soon after theexposure, will protect an exposed person from the disease.

The following advice is issued:

Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets.
If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center at (813) 744-5660.
Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals by leaving pet food outside, or garbage cans open.
Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes,churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.

People who have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals shouldseek medical attention and report the injury to the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County at (813) 307-8059.

For information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of Health website: floridahealth.gov or contact Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, (813) 307-8059, or the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center, (813) 744-5660.

Hillsborough County | Rabies Alert | Rabies | Pets | Animals | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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