State health officials have confirmed three rabid animals in three different South Carolina counties, with six people and seven pets known to have been exposed.
A skunk found near Daniel Drive and Williford Road in Anderson tested positive, exposing one person who was referred to a healthcare provider. A stray cat found near Hendricks Short Cut Road and Zaccheus Lane in Conway tested positive, exposing two people; two cats and one dog were also exposed and will be quarantined as required by the South Carolina Rabies Control Act. A bat found near Lometa Drive and Waterside Trail in York tested positive, exposing three people, with two cats and two dogs also exposed and set to be quarantined. All three animals were submitted to the state Department of Public Health’s laboratory on Sept. 10 and confirmed to have rabies on Sept. 11.
The Anderson skunk is the ninth rabid animal reported countywide this year. The Horry cat is the county’s first confirmed rabid animal of 2026. The York bat is the county’s seventh confirmation of the year. Local animal control has been assisting in the Conway area, where several stray cats may also have been exposed. People who suspect they, a pet or livestock have been exposed to rabies should contact their local Department of Public Health office and their healthcare provider or veterinarian.
Rabies is fatal once symptoms appear but preventable with prompt post-exposure treatment. State law requires cats, dogs and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and pet owners are urged to keep vaccinations current. Wildlife should not be handled, and stray or unfamiliar animals should not be approached; unusual behavior in wildlife, such as a nocturnal animal active in daylight or a normally shy animal that appears friendly, can be a sign of rabies. Anyone bitten or scratched by an animal that may be rabid should wash the wound thoroughly and seek medical care immediately.
