Animal bites, rabies reports down in Henry County

The Henry County Animal Control department reported to the Board of Commissioners recently that animal bites are down from the previous year.

Animal control officer Vince Farah reported at the Nov. 15 regular commission meeting that the number of animal bites reported in the county in 2016 is just over half what was reported in 2015. He added that his department has processed 79 animal bites this year, down from 150 last year. In 68 cases a 10-day quarantine was implemented. Of the 23 animals submitted for testing, five came back positive this year in contrast to last year’s 12, Farah said. All five cases were in the eastern and southeastern sections of Henry County.

Farah pointed out that about 59,000 people around the world die every year from rabies.