The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County (DOH- Alachua) issued a rabies alert on Thursday after a confirmed case was found in a stray cat located in an area south of Hawthorne.
The cat was found off SE U.S. Hwy 301 in Alachua County on Aug. 28, and DOH-Alachua is monitoring rabies among wild animals in the area. County residents and visitors should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population.
According to the release, 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…