Polk County Gets 1st Case Of Rabies In 2021: Deputies

POLK COUNTY, FL — Polk County had its first case of rabies for 2021, Wednesday, June 16, when a dog and a raccoon got into a fight on Poyner Road in Polk City, a news release said.

The raccoon did not survive the fight with a Tibetan terrier mix after the dog's owner separated the two animals, deputies said. Animal Control sent the raccoon carcass to the state laboratory in Tampa to be tested for rabies. Two days later, results from the test confirmed that raccoon was positive for rabies, detectives said.

The dog is vaccinated and will remain at home under a 45-day quarantine, according to authorities.

“If you see a wild animal in distress, or if one of your pets interacts with a wild animal, contact Polk County Animal Control immediately," Sheriff Grady Judd said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the best things to do is to never feed or approach a wild animal. Be careful of pets that you do not know. If you see a stray dog or cat, don´t pet it. And if any animal is acting strangely, call your local animal control officer for help.

In 2020, there were two rabies cases in Polk County area, one from a bat and one from a raccoon.