A raccoon in the Lincolndale Court area of Ellenwood, DeKalb County, has tested positive for rabies, according to local authorities. The animal was killed and laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the virus.
Georgia is considered a state where rabies is always present, and several cases are reported each year in DeKalb County. Officials advise residents to ensure their pets are current on vaccinations and to avoid leaving food outdoors or providing access to garbage cans. “Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal should seek medical attention immediately,” officials stated.
Residents are also encouraged to monitor their pets for unusual behavior and contact DeKalb County Animal Control if any concerns arise. Wild animal trapping will only be conducted if a domestic pet or person has been bitten or scratched.
Rabies is a disease that affects the brain and is typically transmitted through saliva from an infected animal’s bite. While it usually spreads between animals, humans can also contract the virus from animals.
“Vaccinations are effective in protecting humans and pets from the virus. Residents are responsible for vaccinating pets every year and registering the tag with DeKalb County Animal Control,” officials said.
For more information or to report an animal bite, residents can contact DeKalb County Animal Control at 404-294-2996 during business hours or 404-294-2519 after hours.
DeKalb County schools enrolled 98,287 students in the 2022-23 school year, which marked a 2.2% decrease compared to the previous year (https://www.gadoe.org/). White students made up 14% of the student body during that period (https://www.gadoe.org/).
