Report This Disease to Cobb & Douglas Public Health at 770-514-2432 or fax the completed form to 770-514-2313.
For additional reporting options, please click here.
*You may also report animal bites to the Georgia Poison Control Center
at 1-866-PUB-HLTH.
Bitten/Scrathed by a Dog, Cat or Other Mammal? THINK RABIES!
- Please report the bite/scratch to your local Animal Control as soon as possible
- If possible, isolate and observe the animal for 10 days after bite/scratch – Do not interact with the animal during this time!
- If the animal is healthy after 10 days, rabies vaccine is not needed
- If the animal is NOT healthy after 10 days or dies, call Animal Control immediately for possible rabies testing of animal
- Consult your medical provider for assessment and treatment
- You may need a tetanus (TDAP) booster; consult CDPH Travel Clinic (770-514-2485) if preferred
Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is recommended:
If the animal tests positive for rabies or cannot be found by 10 days after exposure, please visit a hospital emergency department to start PEP vaccine series – it is critical to complete entire series!
PEP Vaccine Series
- Day 0: (1st day of series): Receive 1 shot of rabies vaccine and Immunoglobulin (IG)
Available only through a hospital ER - Day 3: Receive 1 shot of rabies vaccine
- Day 7: Receive 1 shot of rabies vaccine
- Day 14: Receive 1 shot of rabies vaccine
- Day 28: Receive 1 shot of rabies vaccine (if immunocompromised)
Have You Experienced a Bat in Your House?
- If the bat was observed after waking up in a room or after being in an altered mindset (i.e., intoxicated, altered mental status, etc.), the animal needs to be tested for rabies to provide the best recommendation for post-exposure prohylaxis (PEP).
- Call Animal Control for an officer to be dispatched to retrieve the animal for testing at the Georgia Public Health Laboratory (GPHL). If Animal Control is unavailable, a wildlife exterminator may be contacted. DO NOT let the animal escape or let the exterminator take the animal as they may not transport it to Animal Control for testing.
- For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/animals/bats.html
Questions?
Call CDPH Epidemiology at 770-514-2432 or 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584)
Report to:
- Cobb County Animal Control: 770-499-4136
- Douglas County Animal Control: 770-942-5961
- Cherokee County Animal Control: 770-345-7270
- Fulton County Animal Control: 404-613-0358
- DeKalb County Animal Control: 404-294-2996
- Paulding County Animal Control: 770-445-1511
How Can I Prevent Contracting this Disease?
- Keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for your pet.
- Keep your cats indoors and keep your dogs on a leash when outside.
- Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets.
- Call Animal Control to remove stray animals from your neighborhood because these animals may be unvaccinated or ill.
For More Information:
- DPH: https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/zvbd/rabies and https://dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health/rabies
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/