Family dog tests positive for rabies in Alabama: What to know

• A bulldog in Pike County, Alabama tested positive for rabies after exhibiting aggressive behavior.
• The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is monitoring other dogs in the area and urging residents to vaccinate their pets against rabies.
• Rabies is typically transmitted through bites but can also spread through contact with infected saliva.
• Residents are advised to avoid contact with stray or wild animals and report any bites or unusual animal behavior to authorities.

A dog in Pike County has been confirmed to have rabies, which has state health officials concerned since the animal was a pet and had contact with people.

“Further testing is being done on the dog to identify the strain, but it is most likely to be a raccoon strain of rabies,” said Dr. Dee Jones, state public health veterinarian. “The concern is always heightened when we have spillover from the wildlife into domestic animals because that increases the risk of human exposure exponentially.”

There was no documentation that showed the dog had been vaccinated against rabies, Dee said.

He said that during the spring there is more wildlife movement and a greater risk of rabies transmission to unvaccinated pets and other animals.

What is the danger?

The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed that a bulldog in Pike County near County Road 7708, Troy, has tested positive for rabies. The dog’s owner reported that the bulldog was acting aggressively toward other animals and the owner. Several other dogs live around the residence and are being monitored for signs of rabies, Jones said.

The health department confirmed that other dogs in the area have been vaccinated, he said.

More: Alabama health officials issue rabies warning after fox attacks hunter

ADPH is also urging people in the area to keep their pets and other animals current on rabies vaccination.

Anyone who comes into contact with a wild or stray animal should avoid direct contact. Rabies is primarily spread through a bite, but can also be spread by any contact with infected saliva.  

Alabama state law requires that dogs, cats and ferrets 12 weeks of age and older be current with rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccines are also available for horses and other livestock if recommended by a veterinarian. Vaccinating animals reduces the risk of rabies infection should an exposure occur; thus, vaccinations help protect animals and their owners and caretakers.

What is rabies?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Rabies is a viral disease that is deadly in people if medical care is not received before symptoms start.

• Rabies is spread to humans and pets primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal.

• Rabies control measures in the United States have significantly reduced rabies as a public health threat.

• Each year 60,000 Americans receive medical care following a potential rabies exposure.

How to prevent the spread of rabies

Rabies prevention is “multifaceted,” Jones said. It involves people taking precautions with wildlife, making sure their pets are current on rabies vaccinations and always reporting an animal bite or other exposure to their medical provider or ADPH.

In addition to vaccination, area residents are advised to take the following precautions to avoid possible exposure to rabies: 

• Do not allow pets to run loose; confine them within a fenced-in area or with a leash.
• Do not leave uneaten pet food or scraps near your residence.
• Do not illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets.
• Do not go near wildlife or domestic animals that are acting in a strange or unusual manner.
• Caution children not to go near any stray or wild animal, regardless of its behavior.

For more information about rabies and prevention, please contact ADPH at (334) 206-5969 or visit the Rabies page at ADPH’s Infectious Diseases website.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

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