JACKSONVILLE - Florida Department of Health in Duval County (DOH-Duval) has issued a rabies alert for the Town Center/UNF area of Duval County. The alert is in effect through March 1, 2024.

The rabies alert area is bordered on the south by Old Canal Road, on the north by Blue Stream Drive on the west by I295 East Beltway, and east by the Cedar swamp Creek.

The alert follows discovery of a rabid cat in the Town Center/UNF area of Duval County. As a precaution, pet owners should maintain control of their pets at all times and be certain that each has received current rabies immunization shots from a licensed veterinarian.

An animal with rabies could infect other wild animals or domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies. All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies and all wildlife contact should be avoided, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes. Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm blooded animals and humans. 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.

The following advice is issued:

• Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets.
• If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact the Florida Department of Health in Duval County at (904) 253-1280.
• Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood.
• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals by leaving pet food outside, or garbage cans open.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.
• Persons 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 Duval County at (904) 253-1280.

Rabies Alert Boundaries 

• North – Blue Stream Drive
• South- Old Canal Road
• East – Cedar Swamp Creek
• West – I295 East Beltway

For further information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of Health website: http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/rabies/index.html, contact Florida Department of Health in Duval County, (904) 253-1280, or contact Animal Care and Protective Services (904) 630-CITY (2489).

About the Florida Department of Health 

The department, 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.

Follow us on Twitter at @FLHealthDuval. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.