Two Rabid Foxes Confirmed in Separate Cases in Newberry and Florence counties and a Rabid Horse Confirmed in Anderson County; Seven People and 33 Animals Exposed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 29, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that one horse and two foxes, one from two different counties, have tested positive for rabies.

• A horse found near Sullivan Road and Pearman Dairy Road has tested positive for rabies. Five people have been referred to their health care providers and 30 equines (i.e., horses and donkeys) will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act. The horse was submitted to the University of Georgia Veterinary diagnostic laboratory July 24, 2024, and was confirmed to have rabies July 24, 2024.
• A fox found near the entrance to the Florence Rail Trail located near W Palmetto Street in Florence, S.C. has tested positive for rabies. One person was referred to their health care provider and a second person was reported as exposed but DPH has yet to learn the identity of this person. A stray cat was exposed and euthanized due to injuries. The fox was submitted to DPH’s laboratory for testing July 25, 2024, and was confirmed to have rabies July 26, 2024.
• A fox found near Church and Gilliam streets in Whitmire, S.C., also has tested positive for rabies. No people are known to have been exposed at this time. Two cats were exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act. The fox was submitted to DPH's laboratory for testing July 24, 2024, and was confirmed to have rabies July 25, 2024.

If you believe you, someone you know, or your pets have come in contact with either the Anderson County horse, Florence or Newberry County fox or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DPH's Columbia office at (803) 896-4680, Florence office at (843) 661-4825 or the Anderson office at (864) 372-3270 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).

South Carolina law requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies and revaccinated at a frequency to provide continuous protection from rabies using a vaccine approved by the department and licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Livestock are susceptible to rabies and all livestock with USDA-approved rabies vaccinations should be vaccinated. Cattle and horses, however, are the most frequently reported infected livestock species. Species for which licensed vaccines are not available (goat and swine) that have frequent contact with humans, or are considered valuable, should also be vaccinated.

“Keeping your pets and livestock current on their rabies vaccination is a responsibility that comes with owning an animal," said Terri McCollister, DPH’s Rabies Program director. "It is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can protect yourself, your family, your pets, and your livestock from this fatal disease. That is an investment worth making to provide yourself some peace of mind."

In South Carolina, rabies is most often found in wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but pets are just as susceptible to the virus. If you see an animal in need, avoid touching it. Contact someone trained in handling animals, such as your local animal control officer, wildlife control officer, or a wildlife rehabilitator. An exposure is defined as direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from an infected animal.

The horse in Anderson County and the fox in Newberry County brings the number of animals to test positive for rabies in each county to two in 2024. The fox in Florence County is the fifth animal to test positive for rabies in that county in 2024. There have been 44 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 Newberry County, four were in Florence County and seven were in Anderson 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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