Part of DeLand is under a 60-day rabies alert from the Florida Department of Health because of a cat that was captured on Nov. 18 off West Chelsea Street and South Clara Avenue. That’s south of downtown DeLand.
The cat, which was unvaccinated, tested positive for rabies. The health department issued the alert on Monday, Dec. 1.
“(The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County) is monitoring rabies among wild animals in the area,” according to a news release from the health department. “All residents and visitors should be aware that rabies is currently present in the wild animal population.”
The boundaries of the rabies alert are Voorhis Avenue on the north, New Hampshire Avenue on the south, South Garfield Avenue on the east and South High Street on the west.
People should make sure they and their pets avoid coming into contact with wild animals, “which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for rabies post-exposure treatment.”
People who are exposed to rabies should seek treatment. Rabies, which is passed through an infected animal’s saliva, usually spreads via animal bites, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease nearly always causes death,” according to the clinic. “For this reason, anyone who may have a risk of contracting rabies should receive rabies vaccinations for protection.”
Ways to help prevent rabies exposure
People should follow these precautions to help avoid rabies exposure, according to the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County:
For information on rabies, go to floridahealth.gov/rabies or call the health department at 386-274-0651.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida Department of Health issues rabies alert in DeLand
Reporting by Sheldon Gardner, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
