Rabid Raccoon Confirmed in Greenville County; One Person and Three Pets Exposed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Aug. 1, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that a raccoon found near Rabon Valley Acres Road and S Nelson Drive in Fountain Inn, S.C., has tested positive for rabies. One person was exposed and has been referred to their health care provider. Three dogs were exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.
The raccoon was submitted to DPH's laboratory for testing on July 29, 2025, and was confirmed to have rabies on July 30, 2025. If you believe you, someone you know, or your pets have come in contact with this raccoon 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).
"To reduce the risk of getting rabies, always give wild and stray animals plenty of space," said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program director. "If you see an animal in need, avoid touching it and contact someone trained in handling animals, such as your local animal control officer, wildlife control operator, or wildlife rehabilitator." An exposure is defined as direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from an infected animal. If your pet is found with wounds of unknown origin, please consider that your pet may have been exposed to rabies.
It is important to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, as this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect against the disease. This raccoon is the third animal in Greenville County to test positive for rabies in 2025. There have been 47 cases of rabid animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 144 positive cases a year. In 2024, six of the 81 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina was 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.
###
Tags
Rabid Raccoon Confirmed in Greenville County; One Person and Three Pets Exposed
View AllDPH Confirms State’s 11th Measles Case in Greenville County, eighth related to current outbreak in Upstate
Read Full ArticleFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 9, 2025
-
DPH, Alliance for a Healthier SC Release South Carolina State Health Improvement Plan
Read Full ArticleFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 9, 2025 -
MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Confirms locations of Spartanburg County Outbreak, Media Briefing to take Place Tomorrow (Thursday)
Read Full ArticleFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 8, 2025COLUMBIA, S.C. – After allowing a 48-hour period of parental notifications to be sent and received, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) can confirm that two schools in Spartanburg County – Global Academy of South Carolina and Fairforest Elementary – have confirmed measles cases identified with the current outbreak and are taking appropriate measures to exclude potentially exposed students.
-
DPH, Partners Encourage Parents to Always Use Safe Sleep Practices
Read Full ArticleFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 8, 2025COLUMBIA, S.C. — October marks both Safe Sleep Awareness Month and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), in collaboration with South Carolina Department of Children's Advocacy and the South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care (SCPITC), reminds parents to follow safe sleep recommendations every time their infant sleeps.