Rabies Prevention and Control

There are few public health threats as concerning as the spread of rabies. A bite or scratch from an infected animal can spread this deadly viral disease from animal to animal or animal to person. It is a lethal disease, killing nearly 50,000 people and millions of animal worldwide.

The most common carriers of rabies in Florida are coyotes, bats, foxes and – most frequently – raccoons. Diseased animals may behave differently than healthy ones. They may stagger, behave aggressively, be out at times of the day when they wouldn’t normally (nocturnal raccoons active during the day) and may salivate excessively or "foam at the mouth."

Since rabies is such a dangerous disease, the most important way to protect yourself and your pets is to prevention of contact with rabies.

• Keep your pets’ rabies vaccinations current (dogs, cats, ferrets, sheep, horses and cattle). Vaccination of pets is the first line of defense against rabies. A vaccinated pet serves as a protective buffer between your family and a possible rabid wild or stray animal. Health officials recommend a three-year rabies vaccine as the most effective means of protecting your pet from rabies. Rabies vaccinations are available from your veterinarian or from Pinellas County Animal Services.

• Do not feed or interact with wildlife or strays.
• Do not leave out food outdoors for pets or wildlife.
• Comply with leash laws.
• Report animal bites or scratches to Animal Services.
• Make sure your pet gets and wears their rabies vaccination tags. They should also wear a tag with their name and your address and phone number, and microchip your pet to insure his/her records can be found.
  
• Keep your pets under direct supervision incase they encounter strays or wild animals. Keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash. If a stray or wild animal bites your pet, seek veterinary assistance for your pet immediately.
  
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call Animal Services or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
  
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
• DO NOT relocate raccoons, it is against the law in Pinellas County.
  Citizens who have nuisance raccoons can request a trap from Animal Services. It is recommended that field officers be called when a raccoon is trapped to decrease the chance of injuries. Relocating a raccoon is illegal and leads to fighting among raccoons and the spread of disease.
• Pinellas County Code

Pinellas County Animal Services is also working hard to reduce rabies in the wild. In 1995, Animal Services initiated a county wide oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program to combat an explosive outbreak of rabies in raccoons. This program, specifically targeted at raccoons, limited the spread of the disease and dramatically reduced the number of new cases in both wildlife and domestic animals. The program continues today and has resulted in the distribution of more than 600,000 vaccine bates and has become a model for other county, state and federal programs.

The success of this program, however, should in no way lead to a complacent attitude towards this deadly disease. Prevention is essential!

• CDC Rabies Main Page
• CDC Just for Kids
• Florida DOH Rabies Main Page
• Vaccination Recommendations for Dogs and Cats

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