COLUMBIA, S.C. - An Oconee County man who was potentially exposed to rabies by a raccoon is under the care of a physician after the animal tested positive for the disease, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
"The man’s dogs got into a fight with the raccoon," said Sue Ferguson of DHEC's Bureau of Environmental Health. "The man was scratched on the wrist as he tried to separate the animals."
Ferguson said anyone bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to the saliva of a rabid animal must undergo immediate measures to stop the virus from reaching the brain because once the rabies virus reaches the brain the disease is fatal to humans and animals. The man is receiving preventive inoculations.
"We cannot stress enough the importance of resisting the urge to adopt or feed wildlife. It is best to avoid contact with wild animals because one cannot tell if an animal has rabies by looking at it," Ferguson said. "About 400 South Carolinians must undergo preventive treatment for rabies every year, with most exposures from being bitten or scratched by a rabid or suspected rabid animal.
"Wild animals carry the disease most often, but domestic pets can contract rabies as well, so we remind residents that the best protection for people and their pets is to make sure pets are regularly vaccinated against the disease, as is required under state law.
"If you think you have been exposed to the rabies virus through a bite, scratch or the saliva of a possibly infected animal, immediately wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water," she said. "Then be sure to get medical attention and report the incident to DHEC."
This is the sixth confirmed rabid animal in Oconee County in 2009. Last year, there were no confirmed rabid animals in the county. In 2008, there were 166 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in South Carolina. So far this year, there have been 132 confirmed cases in animals in the state.
For more information about rabies, see DHEC's Web page at: http://www.scdhec.gov/rabies or contact DHEC’s Bob Bailey at (864) 227-5928. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web page about rabies can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies.