Rabies confirmed positive in Cherokee County raccoon today, Officials seek stray dog that may have been exposed

Cherokee County Environmental Health officials announced today that another raccoon in the county has tested positive for rabies. This is the third confirmed case of rabies among raccoons in the county so far this year. Rabies was also confirmed recently in a stray kitten found in Cherokee County near the Cobb County line.

Officials stated that at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2010, a couple on Water Tank Road in the Macedonia community heard a noise outside their home and let their dog out to investigate.

The dog fought with the raccoon, and when the owners came outside, the raccoon ran across the road to a neighboring home and fought with a dog residing there.

The raccoon was sent to the Georgia State Laboratory for rabies testing and the positive results were reported to the Cherokee County Environmental Health office today.

“Both these dogs are current on their vaccinations so a 45-day quarantine will be instituted,” stated Glen Gordy of Cherokee County Environmental Health.

However, health officials are concerned that a local stray dog, which frequents the area, was also involved in the raccoon attack; therefore, environmental health has asked that an animal control officer be dispatched to the Water Tank Road location, and a live animal trap has been set.

Meanwhile, health officials continue to urge the public to stay away from all unfamiliar animals and to make certain their pets are current on their rabies vaccinations.

For more information about rabies and its prevention, call the Cherokee County Environmental Health office at (770) 479-0444 or log onto www.cdc.gov.