Rabid calf forces 13 people to seek treatment
Thirteen people in the Upstate are receiving medical treatment after coming in contact with a rabid calf, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said Friday.The calf was on property near Highway 28 South in Clemson, tested positive for rabies, DHEC said in a release. The calf was part of a rabies-vaccinated herd but was too young to have been vaccinated against disease, officials said. The calf was submitted to DHEC’s laboratory for testing on Tuesday and was confirmed to have rabies on Wednesday, according to the release.South Carolina law requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies and revaccinated at a frequency to provide continuous protection from rabies.The vaccine is approved by the department and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Livestock are susceptible to rabies and all livestock with USDA-approved rabies vaccinations should be vaccinated. Cattle and horses, however, are the most frequently reported infected livestock species, officials said. Species for which licensed vaccines are not available, like goat and swine, that have frequent contact with people or are considered valuable, should also be vaccinated. “Keeping your pets and livestock current on their rabies vaccination is a responsibility that comes with owning an animal. It is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can protect yourself, your family, your pets, and your livestock from this fatal disease. That is an investment worth making to provide yourself some peace of mind,” Terri McCollister, DHEC’s Rabies Program team leader said. “If your pet or livestock animal is found with wounds of unknown origin, please consider that your animal may have been exposed to rabies.”Officials advise anyone whose family or pets have come in contact with this calf or another animal that potentially has rabies to call DHEC’s Environmental Affairs Greenville office at 864-372-3273 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on holidays at 888-847-0902 (Select Option 2).
Thirteen people in the Upstate are receiving medical treatment after coming in contact with a rabid calf, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said Friday.
The calf was on property near Highway 28 South in Clemson, tested positive for rabies, DHEC said in a release.
The calf was part of a rabies-vaccinated herd but was too young to have been vaccinated against disease, officials said.
The calf was submitted to DHEC’s laboratory for testing on Tuesday and was confirmed to have rabies on Wednesday, according to the release.
South Carolina law requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies and revaccinated at a frequency to provide continuous protection from rabies.
The vaccine is approved by the department and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Livestock are susceptible to rabies and all livestock with USDA-approved rabies vaccinations should be vaccinated.
Cattle and horses, however, are the most frequently reported infected livestock species, officials said.
Species for which licensed vaccines are not available, like goat and swine, that have frequent contact with people or are considered valuable, should also be vaccinated.
“Keeping your pets and livestock current on their rabies vaccination is a responsibility that comes with owning an animal. It is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can protect yourself, your family, your pets, and your livestock from this fatal disease. That is an investment worth making to provide yourself some peace of mind,” Terri McCollister, DHEC’s Rabies Program team leader said. “If your pet or livestock animal is found with wounds of unknown origin, please consider that your animal may have been exposed to rabies.”
Officials advise anyone whose family or pets have come in contact with this calf or another animal that potentially has rabies to call DHEC’s Environmental Affairs Greenville office at 864-372-3273 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on holidays at 888-847-0902 (Select Option 2).