SCHD reports positive case of Rabies in Stephens County

Stephens County Health Department has announced that a dog in the area of Elberton Street and South Broad Street, in Toccoa, tested positive for rabies.

The dog is described as medium brown in color, ears tipped with a white cream color, feet were a white cream color, golden eyes, and about 18 inches high.

The rabies virus does exist in Stephens County wildlife and can be transmitted to domestic animals and humans.

Rabies in humans is essentially 100 percent fatal if not treated within a certain time prior to the onset of symptoms.

If you know of any person or domestic animal that had any contact with this dog or had the potential to contact it, please call the Stephens County Environmental Health Office immediately at 706-282-4507 extension: 121.

Symptoms of rabies that you should watch for in any domestic animal includes animal stops eating or drinking; animal becomes unusually vicious towards owners or others; animal walks with a sluggish gait or even sideways; animal constantly slobbers from the mouth; animal displays strange or unexplained behavior.

If you suspect that you or your animal has been in contact with this or any rabid animal, or you notice your pet or domestic animal displaying any symptoms of rabies, avoid contact with the animal and confine it, then call the Stephens County Environmental Health Office at 706-282-4507 ext: 121.

If you have had contact with this dog or any rabid or suspected rabid animal, please contact your physician immediately to discuss whether treatment is necessary.