Rabid Puppy and Raccoon Confirmed in Cherokee and Berkeley Counties; Three People and Three Pets Exposed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nov. 1, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that a raccoon and an unvaccinated 4-month-old puppy – from different counties – have tested positive for rabies. 

• In Cherokee County, the unvaccinated puppy that tested positive for rabies was found near Union Highway and Stephenson Street in Gaffney, S.C. The puppy was exposed to a skunk three weeks before it began showing signs and symptoms of rabies. Three people were exposed and have been referred to their health care providers. One dog was exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.
• In Berkeley County, the raccoon that tested positive for rabies was found near Alle Place and Morton Waring Lane in Pinopolis, S.C. No people are known to have been exposed. Two dogs were exposed and will be quarantined as required in the Rabies Control Act.

The Cherokee County puppy was submitted to DPH's laboratory for testing Oct. 28, 2024, and was confirmed to have rabies Oct. 29, 2024. The Berkeley County raccoon was submitted to DPH’s laboratory for testing Oct. 29, 2024, and was confirmed to have rabies Oct. 30, 2024. If you believe you, someone you know, or your pets have come in contact with this puppy, raccoon, or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DPH's Upstate Greenville-Spartanburg office at (864) 372-3270 or Charleston office at (843) 953-4713 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on holidays at (888) 847-0902 (Select Option 2).

Please report all animal bites, scratches, and exposures to potentially rabid animals to DPH. “Rabies virus can be present in the saliva of infected dogs, cats, and ferrets during illness and even several days before clinical signs develop. The rabies virus is found in the saliva of infected animals and can be transmitted through a bite, scratch, broken skin, and the mucous membranes of your eyes, nose, or mouth. Immediately wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water,” said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program director. “Contact your local Public Health office for further guidance.”

It is important to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, as this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect against the disease. Both the Cherokee County puppy and the Berkeley County raccoon are the first animals in their counties to test positive for rabies in 2024. There have been 70 cases of rabid animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 148 positive cases a year. In 2023, one of the 78 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina was in Cherokee County, and none were in Berkeley County.

Contact information for local Public Health offices is available at dph.sc.gov/RabiesContacts. For more information on rabies, visit dph.sc.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.

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