Health officials have issued a rabies alert for a portion of Orange County in response to a third raccoon testing positive for the viral disease in the past three months.
The Florida Department of Health in Orange County issued the alert on Monday, October 23, for the Blanchard Park area of Orange County. The alert is in effect for 60 days from October 21, when the third raccoon tested positive.
The alert area impacted is north of Colonial Drive, east of Econlockhatchee Trail, west of Rouse Road, and south of University Boulevard, according to health officials.
“There have been three positive wild raccoons confirmed within the last three months, with one exposure leading to the death of a domestic canine,” reads a statement.
“Contact with feral cats, stray dogs and all wildlife particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes should be avoided,” reads a statement from the FDOH.
The dog cited by the county tested positive for rabies on October 3. At the time, the county issued an alert for the Belle Isle/Conway area. The following map shows the previous alert area, which is in effect until December:
Residents who have been bitten or scratched by an animal in the designated areas, or by any animal in Orange County, should seek medical attention immediately and contact Orange County Animal Services at 407-836-3111.
Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm blooded animals and humans. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies specific immune globulin and rabies immunization.
For more information on the disease, visit the Florida Department of Health page on rabies, or visit the CDC rabies information webpage.