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HEALTH OFFICIALS ISSUE RABIES ALERT

Media contact: Wendi Jackson, Public Information Specialist chd64pio@flhealth.gov

Port Orange, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County has issued a rabies alert for the South-Eastern portions of Port Orange. This is in response to a cat that tested positive for rabies June 8.

All residents and visitors in Volusia County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Volusia County. Alerts are designed to increase awareness to the public, but they should not get a false sense of security to areas that have not been named as under an alert.

The recent rabies alert is for 60 days. The center of the rabies alert is between Harbor Road and N. Dixie Freeway in Port Orange, and includes the following boundaries

An animal with rabies could infect other wild or domestic animals that have 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 the exposure, will protect an exposed person from the disease.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

For further information on rabies, go to http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/rabies/index.html.

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The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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