Press release from Alachua County on behalf of the Department of Health – Alachua County
HAWTHORNE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County (DOH-Alachua) is issuing a rabies alert in Alachua County in response to a confirmed case of rabies in a stray cat that was found in an area south of Hawthorne, off Southeast U.S. Hwy 301 in Alachua County, on Aug. 28, 2025. DOH-Alachua is monitoring rabies among wild animals in the area. All residents and visitors should be aware that rabies is currently present in the wild animal population.
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. If you are exposed to rabies, receiving appropriate treatment after exposure will protect you from the risk of rabies…