Days after three people were bitten by a rabid fox in Bratt and a rabid bat encounter in Escambia County, Florida, officials say someone has been exposed to a rabid bat near Flomaton.
On Wednesday, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) confirmed a rabies exposure near Flomaton.
“This should be a stark reminder that all pets should be properly vaccinated against rabies, given the conditions of rabid animals today in the same general area,” said Alabama Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Dee W. Jones.
Last Friday, the Florida Department of Health (DOH-Escambia) issued a Rabies Alert for Escambia County, Florida, after three people were confirmed to have been exposed to a rabid fox and one person was exposed to a rabid bat.
While the Escambia health department did not specify a location, NorthEscambia.com independently confirmed that three people were bitten by a rabid fox in Bratt, in the general area of Northview High School and Travis Nelson Park.
“Rabies is a potentially fatal disease. It’s important not to handle wild animals, be aware of animals that are behaving unusually, and keep pets vaccinated against rabies,” said Marie Mott, DOH- Escambia administrator.
Mott recommends the following precautions:
- Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets and animals at risk.
- Don’t let your pets run free. Follow leash laws by keeping pets and animals safe on your property. If your pet or animal has been bitten by a wild animal, get veterinary help for the animal immediately and contact Escambia County Animal Services at (850) 595-0097.
- Support animal control efforts to reduce feral and feral animal populations.
- Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
- Do not handle, feed, or accidentally attract wild animals with outdoor food sources such as uncovered garbage or garbage.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
- Teach children not to touch unfamiliar animals, wild or pets, even if they seem friendly.
- Prevent bats from entering living or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar places, where they can come into contact with people and pets.
- People bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek medical attention and report the injury to DOH-Escambia at (850) 595-6700.
