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It's a New Day in Public Health.

The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Rabies

Epidemiology

Rabies 

Disease Control staff investigate animal bites to humans to help stop the spread of rabies in the community.

Rabies is typically spread to humans through bites or scratches from mammals that break the skin. It is also possible, but quite rare, that people may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.

Any mammal can get rabies. The most common wild reservoirs of rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes and coyotes. Domestic mammals can also get rabies. Cats, cattle and dogs are the most frequently reported rabid domestic animals in the United States.

Epidemiology staff work closely with county and municipal animal control officers to investigate animal bite cases and submit necessary specimens to the state laboratory for testing. If you need to report an animal bite, please complete an animal bite report form and fax it to our office at 239-332-9553.