TITUSVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County issued a rabies alert after a positive case was confirmed in Titusville, according to a news release.
A case of rabies in a fox was confirmed on Monday in the area of the La Cita golf course, near Country Club Drive and La Cita Lane, the release states.
As the health department continues to monitor rabies among wild animals in the area, residents and visitors are urged to keep in mind that rabies may currently be present in the wild animal population, according to the release.
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The health department recommended taking the following precautions to prevent rabies exposure:
- Immunize your pets and livestock based on your veterinarian’s recommended schedule.
- Keep pets under direct supervision and on a leash, and keep livestock secured on your property. If an animal bites your pet or livestock, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control at 321-633-2024.
- Avoid contact with wild or stray animals. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract them with outdoor pet food, open garbage cans, or other sources of food. If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal, seek medical attention, and report the injury to DOH-Brevard by calling 321-634-6337 option 3.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home; instead, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
- Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. Contact Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control at 321-633-2024.
- Prevent wildlife, including bats, from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people and pets.
Illness caused by the rabies virus can be nearly 100% fatal in humans if left untreated, according to the Florida Department of Health. For more information on rabies, follow this link to the FDOH website.
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