Forsyth County authorities are reminding the public to use caution around wild animals after a dog made contact with a rabid raccoon in the Grand Cascades Subdivision in Suwanee.
The raccoon was sent to Georgia Public Health Lab on Tuesday and tested positive for rabies.
The rabies virus is nearly 100 percent fatal in humans if untreated within z certain time prior to the onset of symptoms.
Symptoms of rabies that you should watch for are:
• Animal stops eating or drinking
• Animal becomes unusually vicious towards owners or others
• Animal walks with a sluggish gait or even sideways
• Animal constantly slobbers from the mouth
• Animal displays strange or unexplainable behavior
Authorities advise residents to make sure their pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations and to keep them away from wild animals.
Do not feed or capture stray cats and other wild animals.
If you know a person or domestic animal that had contact with a raccoon or had the potential to contact it, please call Forsyth County Environmental Health at (770)-781-6909.
