FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 2, 2007
Fairfield County residents encouraged to vaccinate pets
COLUMBIA – Six adults who handled a cat are under the care of a physician after it tested positive for rabies, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said today.
“A Winnsboro man had been caring for an unvaccinated pet and noticed it began acting strangely,” said Sue Ferguson of DHEC's Bureau of Environmental Health. “The cat died and the DHEC lab confirmed it was positive for rabies, therefore the man and five other adults, who were potentially exposed to the cat’s saliva, are each receiving preventive treatment.
“About 400 South Carolinians undergo preventive treatment for rabies every year, with most exposures from being bitten or scratched by a rabid or suspected rabid animal,” Ferguson said. “Anyone bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to the saliva of a rabid animal must undergo immediate measures to stop the virus because, once the rabies virus reaches the brain, the disease is fatal to humans and animals.
“Avoid wild animals acting tame and tame animals acting wild,” she said. “Wild animals carry the disease most often but, as in this case, domestic pets or strays can also contract rabies, so we advise people to avoid contact with strays or animals they do not know are regularly vaccinated against rabies.
“In addition, to protect both the pets, their owners and other members of the community, we strongly encourage every pet owner to make sure their cats, dogs and ferrets are regularly vaccinated against the disease. State law requires that all pets be vaccinated against rabies.
“If you think you have been exposed to the rabies virus through a bite, scratch or the saliva of a possibly infected animal, immediately wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water,” Ferguson said. “Then be sure to get medical attention and report the incident to DHEC.”
This is the first confirmed rabid animal in Fairfield County in 2007. Last year, there were two rabid animals confirmed in the county. In 2006, there were 180 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in South Carolina. So far this year, there have been 134 confirmed cases in animals in the state.
For more information about rabies, see DHEC's Web page at: http://www.scdhec.gov/rabies or contact DHEC’s Fairfield County Environmental Health office at (803) 635-6481. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web page about rabies can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies.
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For more information:
Clair Boatwright – (803) 898-4461
E-mail – boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov
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