For Additional Headlines - go to our News Section »

• Bank Robbery Suspect Still At Large
  made by gator
• Bank Robbery Suspect Still At Large
  made by 216.250.166.120
• Sea Turtle Cold Stun
  made by carlchilders
• Methods to Quit Smoking
  made by boochips
• Winter Weather Related Information
  made by batticdoor

• Woman Charged with Murdering Grandson
• New Life for Miracle Strip Amusement Park
• American Postal Workers Union to Picket at USPS Public Meeting
• Winter Weather Related Information
• New Details on Mill Accident
• Bank Robbery Suspect Still At Large
• Bowden Goes out a Winner
• Out of Service Elevator Brings Complaints From Apartment Building Residents
• Twelve-year-old Girl Transported to Hospital for Drug Overdose
• Inmate Charged With Defrauding Other Inmates, IRS

Racoon Tests Positive for Rabies in Jackson County
01/08/10 - 04:28 PM

Jackson County Health Department

 RSS Feed

A raccoon picked up by Health Department staff on January 7, 2010 has tested positive for rabies according to lab results received from the Department of Health Pensacola Branch Lab.  The raccoon fought with and was killed by a dog at a home on Granberry Dr., East of Marianna.  The dog has been placed in quarantine to prevent possible spread of the disease.

T.G. Harkrider, Environmental Health Director at the Jackson County Health Department stated that “anyone having knowledge of bites or other exposure from a suspected rabid animal to humans or to domestic animals should immediately contact the Health Department at during normal working hours”.  The Jackson County Health Department has an answering service to relay information for assistance after hours and on weekends concerning animal bites and other exposure. This answering service can be reached by calling .  “Please call us with information and questions related to exposure” Harkrider stated emphatically.  “We need to act quickly in some cases to save people’s lives.  Never shoot a biting animal in the head” he added.  “An intact brain is needed to determine if the animal is rabid.  If you shoot them in the head and destroy the brain, we have to assume the animal was rabid.  Without negative lab results, treatment to the victim has to begin.  Please call us!  We are reachable 24 hours a day and 7 days a week through our answering service at ”. 

Residents are also reminded that Jackson County and the State of Florida have laws requiring vaccination of all dogs and cats.  PLEASE HAVE YOUR PET(S) VACCINATED.