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Comal County health officials report nine animal rabies cases, seek state Ebola surveillance funding
Summary
The county public health director told commissioners the department is monitoring travelers from parts of Africa for possible Ebola exposures, has recorded nine animal rabies cases this year and noted 2,104 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. year‑to‑date; the court ratified submission of a placeholder Ebola funding request to the state.
Comal County public‑health officials told the Commissioners Court on June 25 they are preparing for large events, coordinating weekly with EMS and first responders, and monitoring potential Ebola exposures while continuing routine surveillance for other infectious diseases.
"We are also monitoring any individual that has come from either the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda, for 21 days just to make sure they don't develop any symptoms," the Public Health Director said, explaining the county turned in a budget placeholder when the Department of State Health Services announced potential federal funds. The submission will allow the state to contact local health departments if funding becomes available; the state will prioritize counties with larger numbers of persons under monitoring (PUMs).
The director said the county has recorded nine animal rabies cases so far this year — five foxes, two raccoons, one bat and one cat — and reminded residents not to touch wildlife. "We have 9 rabies cases in animals so far this year," the director said. The speaker also urged people to call public health for MMR vaccinations and said the department can help uninsured or underinsured residents access shots.
On measles, the director cited a nationwide figure: "Now year to date in The US, there's 2104 confirmed cases," and said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports roughly 93% of those cases are in unvaccinated people or where vaccination status is unknown.
Commissioners ratified the submittal of the Ebola funding request; staff said the placeholder did not include county matching funds. County officials said they will store PPE and refrigerators in newly available warehouse space if federal or state funds are awarded.
Next steps: Public Health will monitor state outreach about funding opportunities and continue coordination with first responders; no award decision was announced at the meeting.
