What to Know
- The Florida Department of Health received confirmation of the finding on Wednesday, extending the previous alert another 60 days.
- Rabies is a nervous system disease and can be fatal in humans and warm blooded animals.
A rabies alert for one section of Southwest Miami-Dade County has been extended after a second raccoon tested positive for the disease.
The Florida Department of Health received confirmation of the finding on Wednesday, extending the previous alert another 60 days for the section of West Kendall from SW 152nd Street to 187th Street north and south as well as 117th Avenue to 137th Avenue to the east and west.
Officials announced the first alert on May 18th after a raccoon was found in the area, but did not release the exact location where the second animal was found.
Rabies is a nervous system disease and can be fatal in humans and warm blooded animals – with the only treatment for human exposure being a specific immunization.
DOH officials advise all residents to keep their pets’ vaccinations up to date and keep them under supervision while outside and to avoid wild animals, including raccoons, bats, foxes, coyotes and others.
Humans are also not advised to feed wild animals or bring them into their home. Anyone who may have been exposed to a wild animal can call the DOH’s Miami-Dade office at 305-324-2400.
