2nd Rabies Alert Issued In Hillsborough County

TAMPA, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County has issued a rabies alert for the Carrollwood area after a domestic cat tested positive for the disease. This is the second alert issued in recent days in the northwest part of the county.

The newest alert will remain in place for 60 days, the health department reported in a Tuesday email to media. The center of the alert is at Pinnacle Heights Circle in Tampa. The alert area is bound by Ehrlich Road to the north, Casey Road and South Village Drive to the east, Highway 587 to the South and Farmington Boulevard and Canopy Creek Drive to the west.

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While the alert covers a set area, the health department warns that “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.”

This was the third confirmed case of rabies in the county in 2017. The newest case involves an orange tabby. The first two cases, both involving raccoons, were reported in Lutz.

A 60-day alert for the Lutz area was issued on May 30. The center of that alert is Shady Pines Drive. The impacted area is bound by:

• Lake Brant to the north
• U.S. 41 to the east
• Lake Magdalene Boulevard to the south
• Lake Charles Circle, Millan De Avila and Indian Mound Road to the west

Animals with rabies can infect other wild and domestic animals. With that in mind, the health department is reminding people to get their pets vaccinated. Wildlife contact should be avoided. The agency warns people to keep themselves and their pets away from raccoons, bats, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, skunks and otters in particular.

“Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans,” Steve Huard , the health department’s spokesman, said. The only treatment for humans is a series of shots.

Tips For Avoiding Rabies Exposure

• Keep all pets up to date on their rabies vaccines
• If a pet is bitten by a wild animal, contact a vet immediately or the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center at 813-744-5660
• Do not handle, feed or try to attract wild animals
• Keep garbage cans properly sealed
• Do not adopt wild animals or bring them into a home
• Teach children to steer clear of unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic
• Prevent bats from entering homes and other occupied spaces by sealing up any exposed entry points
• People who are bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek medical attention and report injuries to the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County at 813-307-8059.

For more information about rabies, visit the health department online.

Image via Shutterstock