Unvaccinated cat in St. Johns County prompts 60-day rabies alert

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – An unvaccinated cat found in St. Johns County has sparked a rabies alert for the area.

The Florida Department of Health said the cat was discovered in the Old Moultrie Road area off State Road 207 on June 9.

This rabies alert is for 60 days and includes the following boundaries:

• Northern boundary: King St.
• Southern boundary: State Road 312
• Eastern boundary: Intracoastal Waterway
• Western boundary: Osceola Elementary Road

People and pets should avoid contact with wild animals, as they carry a higher risk of human exposure and require rabies post-exposure treatment.

Residents are urged to follow these precautions to prevent exposure:

• Keep pets under direct supervision and on a leash, and keep livestock secured on your property. If an animal bites your pet or livestock, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact St. Johns County Animal Control at 904-209-0746.
• Avoid contact with wild or stray animals. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract them with outdoor pet food, open garbage cans, or other sources of food. If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal, seek medical attention, and report the injury to DOH-St. Johns by calling 904-506-6081.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home; instead, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
• Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. Contact St. Johns County Animal Control at 904-209-0746.
• Prevent wildlife, including bats, from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people and pets.

FDOH is monitoring.