Rabies alert issued for part of Brevard County

Domestic animals at risk if not vaccinated, officials say

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – After a horse tested positive for rabies Tuesday, the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County issued a rabies alert for the Weber Road area in Malabar.

The rabies alert is for 60 days and includes the following boundaries in Brevard County:

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  • I-95 to the west
  • Corey Road to the east
  • Atz Road to the north
  • Valkaria Road to the south

Officials said all residents should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and that domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. Therefore, all domestic animals should be vaccinated and all wildlife contact should be avoided, especially raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes.

Exposure to rabies, a disease of the nervous system fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans, can only be treated by rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies immunization.

Officials are advising residents and visitors to take precautions:

  • Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets
  • Keep your pets under direct supervision so as to not come into contact with wild animals.
  • Call local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood.
  • Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
  • 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.

Officials said if your pet is bitten by a wild animal, immediately contact Brevard County Animal Services at 321-633-2024.


About the Author:

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.