BARTOW, Fla. — A 60-day rabies alert is in effect Monday in West Frostproof, according to the Florida Department of Health in Polk County.
The department issued the alert Monday in response to a second confirmed case of the disease from a dead raccoon on April 5.
On April 3, a homeowner in the area of Maniac Lane in Frostproof called Polk County Sheriff’s Office animal control officers to assist their dog that was fighting with the raccoon, the office said in a recent news release. The dog ended up killing the raccoon before officers got there.
Its body was sent to the state laboratory where it tested positive for rabies two days later.
The alert impacts those in these listed areas in Polk County, per the department:
Northern boundary: State Highway 630 West
Eastern boundary: Lake Clinch
Southern boundary: Kelly Road
Western boundary: U.S. 27
“Make sure your pets are vaccinated, and call us immediately if you see your pet tangled up or messing with any wildlife. Luckily, this pet was vaccinated,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.
Florida Department of Health urges people in West Frostproof to be aware of the possibility of rabies in the “wild animal population.”
The first confirmed case of rabies this year in the county came from a bat, according to previous coverage.
Florida Department of Health said people and domestic animals should always avoid physical contact with wild animals (e.g., raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, coyotes), which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for rabies post-exposure treatment. Also, keep pets under direct supervision and on a leash, and keep livestock secured on your property. If an animal bites your pet or livestock, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control at (863) 499-2600.
A survey by Harvard Public Health finds nearly half of all dog owners are now hesitant to vaccinate their pets.
Dog mom Susan Leyshon, who's also a registered nurse, said her dog is always up to date on her shots, but she's not surprised by the increased skepticism.
"I think COVID and 'getting vaccinated versus not getting vaccinated' actually spread that fear and that skepticism. Unfortunately, I think that our dogs and our furry friends may actually pay the price," Leyshon said.
Veterinarian Dr. Gary Minder said, "I think it's a natural thing for people to wonder, 'Why do we need to do it?' But it's really about risk assessment."
Dr. Mider said new development across Tampa Bay heightens the risk of rabies contact.
"Wildlife is encroaching upon us. Raccoons, foxes for sure, coyotes, all of that. All it takes is one exposure," Dr. Minder added.
He said rabies vaccines offer crucial protection to our pets.
"It's a killed virus product, so they're super safe. The vaccine technology takes a very small part of the rabies virus that will never cause disease, and it just stimulates an antibody response in the pet," Dr. Minder explained. "It's extremely rare to have a reaction with that."
It also keeps rabies outbreaks rare, a virus the CDC reports to be 99% fatal in untreated cases.
"It's just an ounce of prevention that you don't have to worry about," Dr. Minder said.