North Georgia Health District officials say six people in Dalton are undergoing treatment after having contact with a horse diagnosed with rabies.
The people had contact with the horse's saliva or mucus and are "receiving post-exposure rabies treatments through area hospitals," according to North Georgia Health District Director of Environmental Health, Raymond King.
Rabies transmission from horse to humans
Contact with saliva or mucus of a horse with rabies can infect people.
The horse which was located in a pasture next to the Dalton Municipal Airport, was diagnosed with rabies by the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, according to King.
Officials have not been able to identify the animal suspected of giving rabies to the horse, but officials have speculated the horse might have come in contact with a raccoon, fox, skunk, bat, coyote or bobcat, all of which are known carriers of the deadly disease.
Several practical steps can be taken to prevent a horse from contracting rabies. A routine, yearly rabies vaccination program for all horses, dogs, and cats in endemic areas should be followed. Although not 100% effective, the vaccine is usually highly protective.
Any horse bitten by a wild animal should be considered exposed to rabies and re-vaccinated immediately. If an unvaccinated horse is bitten, the horse should be quarantined and kept under observation for six months. Rabies is a reportable disease and should be disclosed to the local health authorities.
Once clinical signs appear, it is usually too late for any effective treatment because progression of the disease is very rapid and most horses die within three to five days after exhibiting clinical signs.
Learn more about Rabies