Rabies continues to spread through Georgia.

The Chattooga County Health Department has recently identified a positive case of rabies in a horse.

In response to this continued threat, the Polk County Health Department, Polk County Humane Society, and Rockmart Animal Control are sponsoring its annual Rabies Clinic to be held in Rockmart.

The clinic will be held at the Rockmart Community Center located on Goodyear Street in Rockmart on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All shots will be $5 for dogs, cats, and ferrets and $10 for horses. Rockmart Animal Control will be issuing city dog licenses for $5 per dog. All animals must be at least 12 weeks of age, healthy, and restrained with a leash or carrier.

The Polk County Humane Society will also be at the event selling T-shirts and distributing pet care information and selling doghouse raffle tickets.

Rabies is a fatal virus which attacks the central nervous system. The virus is transferred through salvia when a rabid animal bites and/or scratches another animal.

Unless the victim obtains immediate treatment, the virus will penetrate the nerve endings, traveling to the brain and saliva glands resulting in the victim’s death.

Symptoms can vary or mimic other neurological diseases. To protect yourself and others against rabies, the following is a list of necessary precautions that should be taken:

-All cats, ferrets, and dogs, especially hunting dogs, should be vaccinated against rabies.

-Limit contact with stray dogs and cats and avoid wild animals such as raccoons, bats, coyotes, skunks, etc. as they could be carrying the deadly virus.

If a person suspects they have made contact with a rabid animal and has been bitten or scratched by it they should first wash the wound with warm soapy water. Immediate medical treatment should be sought next and someone should report the incident to the local health department .

Based on the Georgia Rabies Control Manual, it is the responsibility of the person who has been exposed to report the bite to the local health department. The health department will investigate the incident and along with Poison Control and help the victim determine if rabies post-exposure treatment is necessary.

The following is a list of things one should do with the possibly rabid animal that has bitten or scratched them:

-If the animal is a dog or cat do not kill the animal. The health department will determine if the animal should be confined for ten days or if the animal should be euthanized for testing. If the animal is killed, the health department will not be able to confirm, that the animal was rabid, consequently, making it difficult to determine if the victim will require rabies post-exposure treatment. If the dog or cat is a stray, City Animal Control officers can provide assistance in the capture and confinement of the animal if it is within the city limits.

-If the animal is wild, the health department will contact the game warden who can assist in the capture of the animal.

All residents of Polk County are encouraged to vaccinate their pets against rabies. For more information about rabies, call the Polk County Health Department 770-749-2270 and ask for Kathy Couey-Miller, Environmental Health Specialist II.