BLOUNTVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) has organized rabies vaccination clinics at multiple locations in Sullivan County for Thursday, May 2.
Tennessee state law requires all dogs and cats three months of age or older must receive and maintain current rabies vaccinations. The clinics begin at 6 p.m. and will offer rabies vaccinations at the reduced rate of $10 per vaccination until the last customer is served.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals and is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid wild animal like raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.
Domestic animals account for less than 10 percent of reported cases, according to the CDC, with cats, cattle and dogs most often making up those cases.
“In 2012 Tennessee reported 48 animals positive for rabies,” said Jerry Taylor, environmental health specialist with the TDH. “Of those 48 animals, there were 10 bats, one cat, two dogs, two horses, two raccoons and 31 skunks. Sullivan County reported one raccoon and five skunks out of those 48 animals.”
This year, to date, there have been seven cases of rabies statewide, with one of those being reported in Sullivan County, Taylor said. Clinic locations on May 2 are as follows: Animal Medical Clinic, 2012 W. State St., Bristol. Ferguson Veterinary Hospital, 636 Anderson St., Bristol. Jones Animal Hospital, 603 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol. Volunteer Animal Clinic, 2515 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol. Sullivan Central High School, 131 Shipley Ferry Road, Blountville.
Woodfield Animal Clinic, 2699 Island Road, Blountville. Tri-County Veterinary, 4389 Hwy. 11-E, Bluff City. Appalachian Animal Hospital, 5462 Hwy. 11-E, Piney Flats. Sullivan Middle School, 4145 S. Wilcox Drive, Kingsport. Andes-Straley Veterinary Hospital, 3407 Memorial Blvd., Kingsport. Colonial Heights Animal Hospital, 209 Colonial Heights Road, Kingsport. Indian Ridge Animal Hospital, 1100 Indian Trail Drive, Kingsport.