A resident of Mineral Bluff, Georgia, was chased and bitten on the ankle by a rabid raccoon Sunday, a news release from the North Georgia Health District states.
The resident, whose name was not released, was preparing to fish on Hot House Creek between Curtis Switch and Old Mill Pond roads when the incident occurred. The animal continued to chase the resident, who shot and killed it, authorities said.
The raccoon tested positive for rabies at the Georgia Public Health Laboratory, and the victim began receiving post-exposure vaccinations Sunday. That treatment involves one dose of immune globulin and four doses of rabies vaccine over a 14-day period, and it should begin as soon as possible after exposure, health authorities said.
All residents are urged to avoid wild or feral animals and keep up rabies vaccinations for their pets. If a pet receives an initial one-year vaccination, it can receive a three-year vaccination the next year.
Health authorities said any bite or scratch from a wild animal should be reported to a health care provider and the local environmental health office.
After hours, call the Georgia Poison Control Center toll free at 1-800-222-1222.
For more information, go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/rabies.