Rabies confirmed in two Cherokee County raccoons

Cherokee County Environmental Health officials announced that state lab results recently confirmed two cases of rabies in the county.

Both cases involved separate incidents in which animals were exposed to infected raccoons. No human exposures were reported.

The first exposure occurred in Woodstock at midday on May 22, 2010 when one of the raccoons fought two Rottweiler dogs in a back yard on Washington Avenue.

The raccoon was sent to the state lab on May 24 and the positive results for rabies were received on May 26.

The second rabies incident took place at a residence on Scott Road in Canton. That infected raccoon attacked a Jack Russell Terrier dog late in the evening on May 25, 2010. The attack occurred on the porch where the dog’s food was kept.

On May 26, this raccoon was also sent to the state lab and the positive results were received on May 27.

All dogs in both cases were current on their rabies vaccinations; therefore, they only required a booster shot and 45-day quarantine.

“So far this year, these are the only two confirmed cases of rabies in the county,” stated Glen Gordy of Cherokee County Environmental Health.

Residents can help prevent the spread of rabies by making sure all their animals are current on their vaccinations.

For more information about rabies in Cherokee County, contact the Cherokee County Environmental Health office at (770) 479-0444, or log onto the North Georgia Health District Environmental Health page at www.nghd.org.