Recent surveillance for rabies in the raccoon population near Columbiana in Shelby County has revealed three positive cases. The current area of focus includes a two-mile radius around the Beeswax Creek boat launch area, where the most recent of the positive raccoons was discovered.

The ongoing surveillance is being conducted by the USDA Wildlife Services (WS) along with the Alabama Department of Public Health. The surveillance began in response to a rabid puppy found in February that was confirmed to be infected with a raccoon variant of the rabies virus.

The primary concern is that these positive cases have been found in an area where raccoon rabies is not typically found. According to Dana Johnson, a USDA WS biologist, the primary focus will be expanding the surveillance areas to try to determine the extent that the rabies virus has spread.

The crowd stood in silence while police dispatch made the final call for K- 9 Bady Monday. As the final “10- 42” was spoke over the radio, signaling the end of a long tour of duty, it was clear to anyone present at the graveside service that Bady was..... Read More

Agriculture & Industries Commissioner John McMillan announced that since June, several positive cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been found in Alabama in birds and horses.

“We are entering into the time of year that makes us extremely vulnerable to the spread of mosquito-borne viruses and we need to protect our livestock and ourselves” stated McMillan. “I want to encourage horse owners to vaccinate their horses for both EEE and West Nile Virus as soon as possible.”