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Rabies Alert issued in Suwannee County

December 27, 2012 -- Rabies Alert Map
Posted at 11:54 AM, Dec 28, 2012
and last updated 2012-12-28 07:08:48-05

LIVE OAK, Fla. -- A rabies alert is in affect for a specific part of Suwannee County, according to the Suwannee County Health Department.

All residents, especially those in the area west of County Road 49 and south of 296th Street, which is southeast of Branford, are asked to be aware that rabies is active in the area.

The alert began on December 27, and it stems from the fact that a raccoon  tested positive for the disease.

Residents in the area described above are asked to take the following precautions:

  • Avoid contact with free roaming domestic or any wild animals.
  • Do not leave pet food outside and secure outside garbage in covered containers to avoid attracting wild animals.
  • Contact your veterinarian to make sure your dogs, cats or ferrets have current rabies vaccination.
  • Do not feed any stray or wild animals.

Law enforcement and animal control officials are requested to assist in enforcement of the following requirements:

  • All dogs, cats and captive wild mammals shall be confined to their owner’s premises.  Confinement shall be by fence, cage, on a leash under control of a responsible person, or inside the living quarters or related building.

This alert ends in 60 days unless another incident occurs within the alert area. Please contact a local veterinarian for questions regarding the health of an animal. For further information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of Health website at www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/medicine/rabies/rabies-index.html.