Brevard Health Department Issues Rabies Alert for Cocoa After Raccoon Tests Positive

By  //  March 31, 2023

This rabies alert is for 60 days

The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County has issued a rabies alert for the 32927 area code of Cocoa in response to a raccoon that tested positive on Wednesday. This rabies alert is for 60 days and please be aware that rabies activities can also occur outside the alert area.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County has issued a rabies alert for the 32927 area code of Cocoa in response to a raccoon that tested positive on Wednesday.

This rabies alert is for 60 days. The center of the rabies alert is at Everglades Street and includes the following boundaries in Brevard County:

■ Kings Highway to the North
■ US 1 to the East
■ Grissom Parkway to the West
■ Fay Blvd to the South

The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Brevard County. Please be aware that rabies activities can also occur outside the alert area.

An animal with rabies could infect domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies. All wildlife contact should be avoided, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and coyotes. Rabies is a nervous system disease 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. Appropriate treatment started soon after the exposure will protect an exposed person from the disease.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

■ Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets and at-risk livestock.
■ Do not allow your pets to run free. Follow leash laws by keeping pets and livestock secured on your property. Support animal control in efforts to reduce feral and stray animal populations.
■ Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
■ Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with outdoor food sources such as uncovered trash or litter.
■ Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
■ Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
■ Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.
■ Persons or pets that have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek medical attention and report the injury to Brevard County Sherriff’s Office BCSO Animal Services at 321-633-2024.

For further information on rabies, CLICK HERE, or contact DOH-Brevard at 321-634-6337 and select option 3, or contact Brevard County Animal services at 321-633-2024.

HOT OFF THE PRESS! March 27, 2023 Space Coast Daily News – Brevard County’s Best NewspaperRelated Story:
HOT OFF THE PRESS! March 27, 2023 Space Coast Daily News – Brevard County’s Best Newspaper