Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Raccoon in DeKalb County tests positive for rabies

AJC FILE/U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
AJC FILE/U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
By J.D. Capelouto
April 3, 2020

A raccoon found in DeKalb County has tested positive for rabies, officials said.

The animal was retrieved on March 28 in the 1800 block of Gainsborough Court in Chamblee, the county said in a statement Wednesday.

“Georgia is a rabies endemic state and the virus is present all year long. It is not unusual for the county to report several rabies cases each year,” DeKalb said in a statement. Officials did not say how the raccoon was retrieved.

Residents should make sure that their pets are up to date on their vaccinations and limit access to garbage cans and outdoor feeding stations, the county said. Anyone who is bitten or scratched by an email should “seek medical attention immediately.”

For more information or to report an animal bite, residents should contact DeKalb County Animal Control at 404-294-2996, press and select option 2 from the menu.

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About the Author

J.D. is a local news reporter covering intown Atlanta and Atlanta City Hall for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Follow J.D. Capelouto on twitter
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