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/Scratched 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!
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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)
Click on the image above to view the full-size flyer.
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.
Animal Bite Reporting Video
For More Information:
- GA Notifiable disease reporting requirements: https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/disease-reporting
- GA Department of Public Health: https://dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health/rabies
- GA Department of Agriculture Reportable Animal Diseases: https://agr.georgia.gov/reportable-animal-diseases
- CDC Rabies webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html