Residents along

Ga. Highway 85 South near Busbin Road are being warned of a confirmed

rabies case in a dead raccoon found in the area.

Dog and cat

owners should make sure their pets are vaccinated for the disease, said

Bill Newman of the Fayette County Animal Shelter. Also residents should

look for wildlife in the area that appears to be staggering, which is

one of the signs that an animal is infected with rabies.

It is also

important for dogs and cats in the area to be contained and not allowed

to run loose, which could help the contamination spread.

The racoon

was found by a woman in the area Monday and the rabies test came back

positive Tuesday, Newman said. The woman's two dogs had been vaccinated

for rabies, but they will still be quarantined for 45 days to make sure

they weren't infected, Newman said.

"We don't

know exactly what could've killed the raccoon," Newman said, noting

that the racoon could've died of natural causes.

But if it died

after being attacked by a dog, that dog could have become infected with

rabies, Newman added.

Back

to News Home Page |