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In a typical year, one to three is average for most rural counties in
Now authorities there are bracing for what could be a historically bad summer for rabies.
With 15 cases already confirmed since January, officials are worried there will be even more cases in the coming months as the weather gets warmer. That’s when the main carriers of the disease are more active.
“You know you worry about fox, raccoons, bobcats and skunks, things like that. And bats. Most people don’t even think about bats,” explained Hall County Humane Society manager Rick Aiken. “Any warm-blooded animal can get rabies and rabies is always 100% fatal,” he said.
After the initial ten rabies cases were reported in Hall County, the Humane Society responded by offering a low-cost rabies clinic in March.
Over 400 pet owners turned out to have their animals vaccinated, but many had to be turned away.
“Normally we have three, maybe four during the summer and they usually don’t start until May. But with all these cases we decided we needed to get on this and go ahead and get the animals vaccinated for their protection and for the humans’ protection,” Aiken said.
In addition to making sure pets are vaccinated, officials are also warning people to avoid feeding wildlife or leaving pet food out at night.
While there have been no reports of humans contracting rabies in
However, the victim was able to get the series of shots in time and has since recovered.
District Two Health spokesman Cail Collins advises that if bitten by an animal believed to be a rabies carrier, or even just looks sick, one should immediately contact the local health department and seek medical attention.
