The Florida Department of Health in Flagler County issued a rabies alert in Flagler County on Thursday, following the discovery of a cat that carries the disease. Only certain parts of the county are covered, and the alert goes for 60 days following its announcement.
The zone that’s now under rabies alert spans from US-1 in the west to I-95 in the east, and from SR-100 in the south to Whiteview Parkway in the north. This covers major commerce areas of Palm Coast like the Target shopping center and Town Center Publix, schools like Flagler Palm Coast High School and Flagler Technical College, and neighborhoods like the E section, R section, P section, Town Center apartments, and Bunnell streets on the northern corner of US-1 and SR-100.
Animals carrying rabies are capable of infecting other animals if they haven’t received their rabies vaccines. The disease tends to be more common in wild animals than in pets, but any pet that hasn’t received its rabies shot may be at risk. Raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes are the most common wild carriers according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), while cats, cattle, and dogs are the most common rabid domestic animals.
Those whose pets have been bitten by a wild animal area advised to call the Flagler Humane Society immediately at (386) 246-8612, or take their pet to urgent veterinary services. Humans who come into contact with rabies can be treated if it’s addressed quickly, but the fatality rate among humans with symptoms is near-100%.
Advice to stay safe from potential rabies exposure includes avoiding contact with wildlife, not handling stray animals of any kind, not inadvertently feeding wild animals with garbage or trash, vaccinating pets for rabies, watching pets to make sure they’re not encountering wild animals, and take measures to prevent bats from occupying one’s home.
