A rabies alert has been issued for the Town Center and University of North Florida (UNF) area in Jacksonville, Florida. This alert, announced by the Florida Department of Health in Duval County on December 28, 2023, comes in response to the discovery of a rabid cat in the area and will remain in effect through March 1, 2024.
The boundaries of the rabies alert area are defined as follows:
- North: Blue Stream Drive
- South: Old Canal Road
- East: Cedar Swamp Creek
- West: I-295 East Beltway
The Department of Health advises residents to take the following precautions:
- Ensure pets’ rabies vaccinations are up to date.
- If a pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek immediate veterinary assistance and contact the Florida Department of Health in Duval County.
- Avoid handling, feeding, or attracting wild animals, including raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and coyotes.
- Do not adopt wild animals or allow them into your home.
- Teach children to avoid handling unfamiliar animals, whether wild or domestic.
- Prevent bats from entering living spaces.
- Seek medical attention if bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals and report the injury to the Florida Department of Health in Duval County.
Rabies is a disease of the central nervous system and is fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans. Treatment for human exposure to rabies includes rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Prompt treatment after exposure is crucial to prevent the disease.
For more information on rabies, residents can visit the Florida Department of Health website or contact the Florida Department of Health in Duval County or Animal Care and Protective Services.