Rabies alert issued for area of Ft. Lauderdale
FORT LAUDERDALE - A rabies alert has been issued for a section of Ft. Lauderdale after a feral cat tested positive on Tuesday.
All residents and visitors in Broward County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated.
County health officials said the alert is in effect for 60 days and includes the following boundaries:
• Sunrise Boulevard to the North
• The Middle River to the West
• The Middle River to the East
• Middle River Drive to the South
Residents should be aware that rabies can also occur outside the alert area.
All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies and all wildlife contact should be avoided, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and coyotes.
Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans.
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. If your pet or livestock are bitten by a wild animal, seek
veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Animal Control Services for
your jurisdiction.
• 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 who have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek
medical attention and report the injury to the DOH- Broward at 954-467-4700