From staff reports
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) confirmed that a raccoon found near Pine View and May River drives in Bluffton has tested positive for rabies. No people are known to have been exposed at this time. Two dogs were exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.
The raccoon was submitted to DHEC’s laboratory for testing on Friday, May 3, and was confirmed to have rabies on Monday, May 6. If you believe you, someone you know, or your pets have come in contact with this raccoon or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DHEC’s Public Health Beaufort office at 843-525-7603 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) or after hours and on holidays at 888-847-0902 (Select Option 2).
Please report all animal bites, scratches, and exposures to potentially rabid animals to DHEC.
“It is very important for you to seek medical attention if you have been exposed to a wild, stray or domestic animal,” Rabies Program Director Terri McCollister said. “The rabies virus is found in the saliva of infected animals and can be transmitted through a bite, scratch, broken skin and the mucous membranes of your eyes, nose, or mouth. Immediately wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water.”
Contact your local Public Health office for further guidance.
It is important to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, as this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect against the disease. This raccoon is the first animal in Beaufort County to test positive for rabies in 2024.
Contact information for local Public Health offices is available at scdhec.gov/RabiesContacts. For more information on rabies, visit scdhec.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.
