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HEALTH OFFICIALS ISSUE RABIES ALERT
alert for the Whispering Oaks area of South Floral City. This is in response to a feral cat that
tested positive on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The cat was tested after it bit a person on the same
day. Thanks to quick response and medical care, the person is receiving the postexposure treatment
necessary to stop the disease.
All residents and visitors in Citrus County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild
animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. The public is asked to
maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Citrus County. Alerts are designed to
increase awareness to the public. Please be aware that rabies activities can also occur outside the
alert area.
This rabies alert is for 60 days. The center of the rabies alert is at the intersection of South
Hewitt Point and East Rodglyn Lane and includes the following boundaries in Citrus County:
• • North boundary – Floral Park Drive
• • East boundary – Withlacoochee River
• • South boundary – South County Line
• • West boundary – South Turner Avenue
An animal with rabies could infect domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies.
All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies and all wildlife contact should be
avoided, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes. Rabies is a
disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm blooded animals and humans. The only treatment
for human exposure to rabies is rabies specific immune globulin and rabies immunization.
Appropriate treatment started soon after the exposure will protect an exposed person from the
disease.
Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:
• • Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets and at-risk livestock.
• • Do not allow your pets to run free. Follow leash laws by keeping pets and livestock secured
on your property. If your pet or livestock are bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance
for the animal immediately and contact Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Unit at
352-726-1121.
• • Support animal control in efforts to reduce feral and stray animal populations.
• • Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly
cared for or regularly vaccinated.
• • Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with outdoor food sources such
as uncovered trash or litter.
• • Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
• • Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear
friendly.
• • Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools,
and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.
• • Persons who have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek medical
attention and report the injury to the DOH-Citrus at 352-527-0068
For further information on rabies, go to floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/rabies or
contact DOH-Citrus at 352-527-0068.
For more information about DOH-Citrus, visit www.CitrusCountyHealth.org or follow us on Twitter at
@FLHealthCitrus.
About the Florida Department of Health
The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect,
promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and
community efforts.
Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida
Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.
CONTACT:
Amy Douglas, APR Amy.Douglas@FLHealth.gov 352-513-6057 Office
352-423-0775 Mobile