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