ALERT! - Rabies confirmed in raccoon that bit Whitfield County boy; Local officials concerned others may have been exposed

Whitfield County Environmental Health Manager Chad Mulkey announced today that Georgia State Laboratory results have confirmed rabies in a raccoon that bit a young boy at Al Rollins Park yesterday. Officials believe other children may have been scratched by the raccoon and are urging parents to contact them if they believe their child could have been exposed.

According to Mr. Mulkey, “On Tuesday, June 29, a large male raccoon attacked a little boy playing in the water near a culvert at Al Rollins Park off of Threadmill Road. The little boy's dad beat the raccoon off with a rock and killed it.”

Diane Franklin, Whitfield County Animal Control Officer, was called immediately and took the raccoon’s head for rabies testing at the state lab. The positive test results were returned late today.

Diane Franklin, Whitfield County Animal Control Officer, was called immediately and took the raccoon’s head for rabies testing at the state lab. The positive test results were returned late today.

Ms. Franklin and local health officials have reason to believe other children may have come into contact with the raccoon; therefore, Whitfield County Environmental Health staff are posting flyers in the Al Rollins Park area asking residents to call if they believe they or their children were exposed. Those individuals are urged to contact Diane Franklin at the Whitfield County Animal Shelter at (706) 278-2018 or by dialing (706) 463-0463, or they may call Chad Mulkey at the Whitfield County Environmental Health office at (706) 272-2005.