DHEC confirms rabid cow in Saluda County, four people exposed

SOURCE: DHEC PRESS RELEASE

SALUDA COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has confirmed that a cow in Prosperity has tested positive for rabies.

DHEC officials say four people have been exposed and were referred to their health care providers.

Also, eleven cows were potentially exposed to the rabid cow.

The public health veterinarian with DHEC and the state veterinarian with Clemson University Livestock Poultry and Health (CULPH) have been contacted to determine the appropriate safety response actions, say DHEC.

The cow was submitted to DHEC’s laboratory for testing on Jan. 31, and was confirmed to have rabies on Feb. 1.

The cow is the first animal in Saluda County to test positive for rabies in 2024 but there have been seven cases of rabid animals statewide this year.

Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged around 148 positive cases a year and in 2023, one of the 78 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina was in Saluda County.

“Keeping your pets and livestock current on their rabies vaccination is a responsibility that comes with owning an animal,” said Terri McCollister, DHEC’s Rabies Program director. “It is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can protect yourself, your family, your pets and your livestock from this fatal disease.”

If you believe that you, your family members or your pets have come in contact with the cow or another animal that potentially has rabies, call DHEC’s Public Health Columbia office at (803) 896-0620 or at (888) 847-0902.