Florida health authorities issue a rabies warning for the Melbourne area.

The Florida Department of Health issued a rabies alert for the Melbourne area on Thursday and asked the public to take precautions after a stray cat tested positive for rabies.

The FDOH issued the alert in response to a confirmed case of rabies in a stray cat that was killed on July 17 in the area of Lynn Avenue near Laurie Street in Brevard County.

“The Brevard Health Department is monitoring rabies among wildlife in the area. All residents and visitors should be aware that rabies is currently present in the wildlife population,” the health department stated in a news release. “People and pets should always avoid physical contact with wildlife (e.g. raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, coyotes) as they pose a higher risk to humans and require rabies treatment after exposure.”

Anyone who has been exposed to rabies should seek appropriate treatment immediately after exposure to protect themselves from the risk of rabies infection.

Thursday was the third rabies alert this year in the Melbourne area. In June, the FDOH issued a similar rabies alert after a raccoon captured on May 26 near Breeze Lane and Lorna Drive, east of N. Wickham Road in the Melbourne area, tested positive, and in April when another raccoon tested positive on Hield Road at Minton Road on April 16.

What are the limits of the rabies warning?

This rabies warning is in effect for 60 days and includes the following boundaries in Brevard County:

Northern boundary: North Harbor City Boulevard
Southern border: Lorraine Drive
Eastern boundary: South Babcock Street
Western boundary: Magnolia Avenue

What precautions should I take?

Residents and visitors should be aware that rabies may currently be present in the wildlife population in this area.

The FDOH recommends taking the following precautions to prevent exposure to rabies:

Keep pets under direct supervision and on a leash and secure livestock on your property.
If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal, seek medical attention and report the injury to DOH-Brevard at 321-634-6337 (option 3).
If your pet or livestock animal is bitten by an animal, seek veterinary care immediately and contact Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control at (321) 633-2024. Contact Animal Control to remove any suspected stray animals.
Do not touch or feed stray animals, or inadvertently attract them with outdoor pet food, open garbage cans, or other food sources.
Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home; contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator instead.
Vaccinate your pets and livestock according to the vaccination schedule recommended by your veterinarian.
Prevent wildlife, including bats, from entering residential or occupied areas in homes, schools, and other similar areas where they may come into contact with people and pets.

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