Warning issued for Silver Springs-area residents after bobcat tests positive for rabies

A bobcat in the Silver Springs area of Marion County has tested positive for rabies.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County is warning people who live or work in the Silver Springs area – particularly those who frequent the areas listed below – should maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active nearby:

• North of E State Road 40;
• South of NE 59th Place;
• West of NW 145th Avenue Rd.; and
• East of NE 114th Terrace.

While officials are warning those in the immediate area of the danger, they say residents who live outside the area shouldn’t get a false sense of security. An animal with rabies could infect other animals that have not received a rabies vaccination. Domestic animals are at risk if they are not vaccinated. And rabies is always a danger in wild animal populations, officials say.

Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to humans and warm-blooded animals. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Appropriate treatment started soon after the exposure will protect an exposed person from the disease.

Those who have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek medical attention and report the injury to the Florida Department of Health in Marion County at (352) 644-2713. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek immediate veterinary assistance for the animal and contact Marion County Animal Services at (352) 671-8727.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions to avoid exposure to rabies:

• Avoid all contact with wildlife, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes. Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
• Never handle unfamiliar animals (wild or domestic), even if they appear friendly.
• Do not feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or trash.
• Keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all pets.
• Keep pets under direct supervision so they do not come into contact with wild animals.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools and other similar areas where they might encounter people and pets.

For more information on rabies, click HERE or call (352) 629-0137.

The Florida Department of Health, which is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. For more information, visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.