DHEC: Lancaster County dog potentially exposes person to rabies

A person was potentially exposed to rabies after trying to care for a Lancaster County dog that tested positive for the disease, says the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

According to DHEC, the dog began to show abnormal behavior Sept. 4, such as ramming into objects, obsessive digging, lethargy and extra salivation.

During this time, the person may have been exposed to the dog’s saliva while trying to care for the animal.

The incident occurred in the Cedar Creek/Hoke Road area of Lancaster County. The dog was confirmed to have rabies on Sept. 7 after being submitted to DHEC’s laboratory.

DHEC warns that pets who stay outdoors have the potential to come in contact with wild or stray animals.

If unexplained wounds are found on a pet, it’s best to immediately seek veterinary treatment, according to DHEC.

“Rabies is transmitted when saliva or neural tissue of an infected animal is introduced into the body of a person or animal,” said Sandra Craig, director of DHEC’s Food Protection and Rabies Prevention Division. “This usually occurs through a bite; however, saliva contact with open wounds or areas such as the eyes, nose, or mouth could also potentially transmit rabies.”

The agency also advises keeping pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccination to protect it.

The dog is the first animal in Lancaster County to test positive for rabies this year. So far, there have been 48 confirmed cases of animal rabies statewide in 2017.

In 2016, two of the 94 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina were in Lancaster County.

This story was originally published September 8, 2017 at 5:58 PM with the headline "DHEC: Lancaster County dog potentially exposes person to rabies."