SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County has discovered a second raccoon that’s tested positive for rabies in Kendall.
On Wednesday, the DOH-Miami-Dade confirmed the rabies finding and said a previous rabies alert will be extended for the next 60 days.
The boundaries for the alert are:
- Southwest 152nd Street to the north
- Southwest 187th Street to the south
- Southwest 117th Avenue to the east
- Southwest 137th Avenue to the west
7News cameras captured Jonathan, a resident in the rabies alert zone, as he took his pet dog Milo out for his afternoon walk.
“I got really worried when I heard about it,” he said about the rabies warning.
Health officials said this is the second rabid raccoon this year in Miami-Dade County. The first case was confirmed back in May.
“There’s raccoons over here also. It’s a scary thing,” said Jorge Roldan, who also lives in the rabies zone.
DOH-Miami-Dade is working alongside Miami-Dade Animal Services to try and identify if anyone has made contact with the rabid raccoons. In the meantime, officials said, all domestic animals should be properly vaccinated against rabies and that contact with wildlife should be avoided.
Roldan said he is worried because so many pets live in his neighborhood.
“Well, I keep mine indoors all the time,” he said. “Yeah, we just gotta keep them on a leash, but I’ll guarantee you the majority of – 99 percent of this neighborhood doesn’t know. We’re always walking our dogs in this neighborhood, and no one knows what you just told me.”
“We’re new, and we rent here, so we don’t know what to do,” said Jonathan.
Officials advised residents to avoid feeding wild animals and secure their garbage because open cans attract pests.
If you or your pets are scratched or bitten by a raccoon or another wild animal, seek medical attention immediately.
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