2 Hilton Head islanders treated for possible rabies exposure

Two people on Hilton Head Island have started rabies treatment after they were potentially exposed when their dog was involved in a fight with a raccoon May 10.

According to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, the raccoon tested positive for rabies in lab tests the following day.

The dog involved in the incident was up to date on its rabies vaccinations but still will be quarantined for 45 days. If the dog had not been vaccinated, the quarantine would be longer.

“If you see a wild animal acting tame or a tame animal acting wild, we advise you to stay away from it,” DHEC spokesman Jim Beasley said Friday.

“It is impossible to tell by appearance if an animal has rabies or some other condition that causes similar signs of illness, such as distemper or lead poisoning,” said Sandra Craig of DHEC’s Bureau of Environmental Health Services. “The only way to determine if the animal has rabies is to have the brain tested in a laboratory.”

Each year, hundreds of South Carolinians undergo preventive treatment for rabies. Keeping pets up-to-date on vaccinations is key to preventing the spread of the virus, Beasley said.

“State law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated,” he said.

So far this year, nine animals have tested positive for rabies in Beaufort County. That number is included in the 36 confirmed cases statewide this year.

In 2015, there were a total of 130 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina, three of which were reported in Beaufort County, according to DHEC.

“It’s important to use caution around any wild animal, dead or alive,” Craig said. “Please keep this in mind if you find yourself in a situation where you have the potential to be exposed to saliva or neural tissue, such as the brain or spinal cord, from any animal. Be sure to never handle a wild or stray animal with your bare hands.”

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 2:05 PM with the headline "2 Hilton Head islanders treated for possible rabies exposure."