Rabid Raccoons Confirmed in Calhoun and Lexington counties; Seven People and Two Pets Exposed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 8, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that two raccoons from two different counties have tested positive for rabies.  

• A raccoon found near Springwater and Viceroy lanes in Swansea, S.C., has tested positive for rabies. No people are known to have been exposed at this time. Two dogs were exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act. 
• A second raccoon found near Stonewood Drive and Wilton Road in West Columbia, S.C., has also tested positive for rabies. Seven people were exposed and referred to their health care providers.

Both raccoons were submitted to DPH’s laboratory on July 2, 2024, and were confirmed to have rabies on July 3, 2024. If you believe you, someone you know or your pets have come in contact with either the Calhoun County or Lexington County raccoon, or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DPH's Lowcountry Orangeburg office at (803) 533-5480 or Columbia office at (803) 896-0620 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).

“Rabies is usually transmitted through a bite or scratch that allows saliva from an infected animal to be introduced into the body of a person or another animal. However, infected saliva or neural tissue contact with open wounds or areas such as the eyes, nose, or mouth could also potentially transmit rabies,” said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program director. 

Raccoons are the most common animal to test positive for rabies in South Carolina and play a significant role in the transmission of rabies in the state. There is no established time frame for monitoring raccoons to rule out the possibility of rabies. DPH does not recommend keeping raccoons or other wild animals as pets due to the risks of rabies exposures. 

To reduce the risk of getting rabies, always give wild and stray animals their space. 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 a wildlife rehabilitator. Please report all animal bites, scratches, and exposures to potentially rabid animals to DPH. 

In 2024, the Calhoun County raccoon is the first animal to test positive for rabies in that county, and the Lexington County raccoon is the first animal in that county to test positive for rabies. There have been 40 cases of rabid animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 148 positive cases a year. Of the 78 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina in 2023, two were in Calhoun County, and eight were in Lexington County. 

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

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