FOR INSTANT RELEASE:
May 25, 2023
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) verified that an unvaccinated family pet cat discovered near Redwing Drive and North Ham Road in Timmonsville, S.C., has actually evaluated positive for rabies.
Four individuals were exposed and have actually been described their healthcare service providers. One dog was exposed and will be quarantined as needed in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act. Seven unvaccinated cats were likewise exposed and will be euthanized out of an abundance of care at the owner’s discretion.
The cat was sent to DHEC’s lab for screening on May 23, 2023, and was verified to have rabies on May 24, 2023. If you think you, somebody you understand or your animals have actually been available in contact with this cat, or another animal that possibly has rabies, please call DHEC’s Public Health Florence workplace at (843) 661-4835 throughout typical business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on vacations at (888) 847-0902 (Select Option 2).
“To reduce the risk of getting rabies, always give wild and stray animals plenty of space,” said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program Team Lead. “If you see an animal in need, avoid touching it and contact someone trained in handling animals, such as your local animal control officer, wildlife control operator or wildlife rehabilitator.”
An direct exposure is specified as direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth) with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from a contaminated animal.
Stray and outside family pet cats work as a substantial source for rabies direct exposure. If animals in the location have actually received any inexplicable injuries or have actually been seen communicating with feral cats in recent weeks, please call your vet’s workplace. It is essential to keep animals approximately date on their rabies vaccination, among the most convenient and most efficient methods to safeguard versus the illness.
This cat is the very first animal in Florence County to test positive for rabies in 2023. There have actually been 23 cases of wild animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has actually balanced around 148 positive cases a year. In 2022, among the 83 verified rabies cases in South Carolina remained in Florence County.
Contact info for regional Public Health workplaces is available at For more info on rabies see scdhec.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.
