2008 Georgia data summary: rabies [Oct. 2009]

2008 Georgia Data Summary:
RABIES

Number of Confirmed Case

Confirmed Animal Rabies Cases in Georgia 1988-2008
500 400 300 200 100
0 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Year
Rabies Tests Performed in Georgia, 2008
350 300 250 200 150 100
50 0

Number January February
March April May June July
August September
October November December

Month Total Tests Performed Positive Tests

Source of Human Exposures to Rabid Animals in Georgia, 2008

Skunk, 8

Bat, 13

Bovine, 1

Raccoon, 23

Cat, 11

Llama, 1 Fox, 8

Coyote, 1 Dog, 5

Georgia has been identified as having a high endemicity of rabies in wild animals (e.g., raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats) and a low endemicity in domestic animals (e.g., cats, dogs, livestock).
In the Southeastern United States, the primary reservoir of rabies is the raccoon. Both raccoon and bat variants of the rabies virus have been found in Georgia.
In 2008, 2595 animal specimens were laboratory tested for rabies. Three hundred and eighty-five (14.8%) tested positive.
Of the 159 counties in Georgia, 148 submitted animal specimens for rabies testing. Ninetynine counties were found to have at least one positive animal rabies case.

Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Public Health 2 Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303 404.657.2588 http://health.state.ga.us

Number of Confirmed Case

Confirmed Rabies Cases in Wild Animals Georgia, 2002-2008

300 250 200 150 100
50 0 2002

2004

2006

Year

2008

Bat Fox Raccoon Skunk

Confirmed Rabies Cases in Domestic Animals Georgia, 2002-2008
25

Number of Confirmed Case

20

15

Cat

Dog

10

Livestock

5

0 2002

2004

2006

Year

2008

Positive Rabies Tests by Species in Georgia, 2008

Species Bat Bear Beaver Bobcat Bovine Cat Chipmunk Cow Coyote Dog Donkey Ferret Flying Squirrel Fox Goat Groundhog Hamster Horse Llama Mouse Muskrat Opossum Otter Pig Raccoon Rat Skunk Squirrel Total

Positive Tests 25 0 0 5 1 12 0 0 2 6 0 0 0 36 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 234 0 62 0 385

Percent of Total Positive Tests
6.49% 0% 0%
1.30% 0.26% 3.12%
0% 0% 0.52% 1.56% 0% 0% 0% 9.35% 0% 0% 0% 0.26% 0.26% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 60.78% 0% 16.10% 0% 100%

Wild animals accounted for 94.5% of positive animal rabies cases in 2008, with raccoons comprising over 60% of rabid animals.
Domestic animals accounted for only 5.5% of positive rabies cases.
There have been no human rabies cases reported in Georgia since 2000.
Animal bites are considered a notifiable condition in Georgia and should be reported to Public Health within 24 hours.
Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Public Health 2 Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303 404.657.2588 http://health.state.ga.us