Rabid Animals Confirmed in Abbeville and Greenville Counties; Four People, 10 Livestock, and One Pet Exposed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nov. 5, 2025

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that a calf and a skunk have tested positive for rabies.

• In Abbeville County, a calf found near Gin House and Crooked roads in Abbeville, S.C., has tested positive for rabies. Four people were exposed and have been referred to their health care providers. Ten cows were exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.
• In Greenville County, a skunk found near Jonesville Road and Strasburg Drive in Simpsonville, S.C., has tested positive for rabies. No people are known to be exposed at this time. One dog was exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.

The Abbeville County calf and the Greenville County skunk were submitted to DPH's laboratory for testing Nov. 3, 2025, and were confirmed to have rabies Nov. 4, 2025. If you believe you, your family members, or your pets have come in contact with this calf or skunk or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DPH's Upstate Greenville-Spartanburg office at (864) 372-3270 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on holidays at (888) 847-0902 (Select Option 2).

South Carolina law requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies and revaccinated at a frequency to provide continuous protection of the pet from rabies using a vaccine approved by the department and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Livestock are susceptible to rabies and all livestock with USDA-approved rabies vaccinations should be vaccinated. Cattle and horses, however, are the most frequently reported infected livestock species. Species for which licensed vaccines are not available (goat and swine), that have frequent contact with humans, or are considered valuable, should also be vaccinated.

“Keeping your pets and livestock current on their rabies vaccination is a responsibility that comes with owning an animal. It is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can protect yourself, your family, your pets, and your livestock from this fatal disease. That is an investment worth making to provide yourself some peace of mind,” said Terri McCollister, DPH’s Rabies Program manager.

In 2025, the Abbeville County calf is the third animal in Abbeville County to test positive for rabies in that county, and the Greenville County skunk is the eighth animal to test positive for rabies in that county. There have been 87 cases of rabid animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 144 positive cases a year. In 2024, none of the 81 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina were in Abbeville County, and six were in Greenville County.

Contact information for local Public Health offices is available at dph.sc.gov/RabiesContacts. For more information on rabies, visit dph.sc.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.

###