A rabies alert has been issued for the Yulee area in central Nassau County after a fox tested positive for the fatal disease.Public health officials say there is a possibility that rabies could be spreading among other wildlife, meaning people need to take precautions.
They urge pet owners to make sure their pets' rabies vaccinations are up to date and to seek help immediately for a pet that’s been bitten by a wild animal.
People should give a wide berth to wild animals and animals that are behaving oddly.
Anyone who’s been scratched or bitten by an animal should see a doctor right away.
Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is nearly always fatal to humans by the time clincial signs start showing, according to the CDC. Appropriate treatment must be started quickly to protect an exposed person from the disease.
The signs, symptoms, and outcome of rabies in animals can vary, but are often similar to those in humans.
Contact reporter Cyd Hoskinson at choskinson@wjct.org, 904-358-6351 and on Twitter at @cydwjctnews.
Photo used under Creative Commons license.
