Pasco County health officials issued a rabies alert for the southwest region of Zephyrhills due to a raccoon testing positive last week.
The raccoon was tested after it attacked an owned dog the previous day. The dog was recently vaccinated against rabies and has been placed on observation.
The recent rabies alert is for 60 days. The center of the rabies alert is in the southwest region of Zephyrhills and includes the following area boundaries:
• North boundary – Eiland Blvd.
• West boundary – Coates Rd/Dean Dairy Rd.
• South boundary – Tucker Rd.
• East boundary – 20th St.
The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Pasco County.
An animal with rabies could infect other wild 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.
