Hall County has had a low number of confirmed rabies cases this year - three so far - but one incident last week has raised some concern in the community; a Gainesville resident and a dog were both bitten by a rabid fox.
According to Officer Kevin Buecker, Field Supervisor for Hall County Animal Control, a human suffering a bite by a rabid animal is a bit unusual.
"Most of our exposures are animal versus animal," Buecker said. "Bats we sometimes get [reports] of exposures because people are in the house with them. Generally, when we do have a person exposed, they're with their animal when something happens."
That was the case on Saturday, June 12 when the victim and a pet suffered bites on Morgan Drive just off Athens Highway in Gainesville. Buecker said both will be okay. The person who was bitten is undergoing a series of injections to prevent any infection from the rabies.
Buecker said it's a good idea to be educated when it comes rabies and wild animals.
"Rabies presents in a couple of different forms and there are a few other illnesses that replicate rabies," Buecker said, noting there are some common occurrences that should raise suspicions . "[The animal] not able to walk right - sort of neurological symptoms - if it's a nocturnal animal out during the day, that should be a red flag to anybody."
Buecker said often rabid animals are aggressive, although raccoons and skunks are by nature aggressive animals, so they may not be rabid even if they are threatening. Either way, Buecker said there's no need to take a chance - if someone sees an animal displaying any of those types of behaviors, they need to get away quickly.
"Obviously, if it does have contact with a domesticated animal or a person, call Animal Control or 911 ASAP and we'll get an officer out as soon as possible," Buecker said.
There are certain wild animals in North Georgia that are more susceptible to rabies, according to Buecker.
"Bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks are big carriers," Buecker said. "Really any mammal that is big enough to survive the attack by a carrier could be a carrier."
With that in mind, Buecker said the best line of defense for pet owners is to make sure their domesticated animals are up-to-date on rabies vaccines.
"Make sure your animals are vaccinated and you keep the rabies shots current ever year or three years, depending on the vaccine that you receive from your vet," Becker said, noting that the shots are not expensive. "From the Hall County Animal Shelter, they're $10. I know some vets have started offering lower-cost rabies shots, as well."
Buecker said even though a vaccinated animal still has to get a booster shot and be monitored if there is exposure to a rabid animal, it's far less heart-breaking to deal with than what happens to an unvaccinated animal that becomes infected; rabies is a fatal illness for animals.
For more information on Hall County Animal Services, including how to make an appointment for rabies vaccines, follow this link.
