Hays County, Texas – The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed an outbreak of rabies in wildlife within Hays County and surrounding areas. Most cases have involved foxes, which are common carriers of rabies in Texas. While there is no imminent threat to human life, rabies is a serious disease that can affect pets, livestock, and humans if exposed. 

Hays County officials are working closely with local healthcare and veterinary providers to monitor the situation and ensure readiness. The Health Department is actively coordinating with local medical providers to ensure treatment protocols and resources are in place should human exposure occur. 

What is rabies?

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the brain and nervous system.

How does rabies spread?

Rabies can be spread by the bite of an animal sick with rabies (also known as rabid) or through the saliva of a rabid animal entering a fresh scratch or similar skin injury. In Texas, rabies is most commonly found in skunks, bats, coyotes, raccoons, and foxes.

How do I protect myself and pets/livestock against rabies?

Avoid contact: Do not approach, play with, or feed wildlife.

Rabies vaccination: The best way to protect your pet is to make sure their rabies shots are up to date. Texas law requires all dogs and cats to be vaccinated, and in Hays County, they must get their first shot by 4 months old. Rabies vaccines expire, so your pet will need regular boosters. Your vet will recommend a 1-year or 3-year schedule.

Secure your pet: Prevent your pet’s contact with wildlife such as skunks, foxes, bats, coyotes, and raccoons. When going on walks in unsecured areas, make sure your pet is on a leash.

Spay or neuter your pets to protect them from rabies: This procedure makes pets less likely to wander or look for mates, which lowers their chances of meeting wild animals that could have rabies.

Act quickly if an exposure occurs: If a human or pet is bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and water immediately and see a doctor or veterinarian.

If you have been bitten, scratched, or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies, you should seek medical care immediately.

Hays County residents should go to an emergency room for wound care and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Rabies PEP is a series of treatments that helps prevent rabies after a possible exposure.

Ascension Seton Hays ER, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Buda, and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa San Marcos ER currently have rabies PEP available. If you are unable to visit either location, please call your nearest emergency department to confirm availability.

Ascension Seton Hays Hospital 

6001 Kyle Pkwy

Kyle, TX 78640

512-504-5000 

Emergency Room is open 24 hours. 

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos

1301 Wonder World Dr

San Marcos, TX 78666

512-353-8979

Emergency Room is open 24 hours. 

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Buda

5330 Overpass Rd

Buda, TX 78610

737-999-6200

Emergency Room is open 24 hours.

Contact local animal control if you observe an animal showing any of the following behaviors:

• Acting strangely – being unusually aggressive or overly friendly
• Seizures – sudden shaking or convulsions
• Trouble moving – weakness, paralysis, or difficulty walking
• Confused behavior – seeming disoriented or not knowing where they are
• Drooling a lot – excessive saliva or foaming at the mouth

If you have any questions or concerns about rabies in animals or would like to report animals you suspect of rabies, please call The Hays County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division or your city’s animal control authority. 

If you see a suspicious animal: call local animal control and be ready to share:

• Exact location
• Time seen
• If it contacted people or pets
• Any unusual behavior

Please find information below regarding local animal control contacts for Hays County.

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division

810 S. Stagecoach Trail

San Marcos, Texas 78666

512-393-7896

San Marcos Animal Shelter and Animal Services

750 River Road

San Marcos, Texas 78666

512-805-2650 

City of Kyle Animal Control

300 W Center St

Kyle, TX 78640

512-268-3232

Kyle Public Safety Center

1700 Kohler’s Crossing

Kyle, Texas 78640

512-268-3232

City of Buda Animal Control

405 E. Loop Street, Building 100

Buda, Texas 78610

512-312-0084

To protect yourself and your pets/livestock: 

• Keep dogs, cats and livestock currently vaccinated against rabies (following state and local rules).
• Keep pets indoors at night (if possible) and supervise them when they do go outside.
• Seek immediate veterinary care for a pet if it comes into contact with a raccoon, skunk, fox, bat, coyote, or other animal behaving in a way indicative of rabies.
• Avoid contact with and feeding of wildlife.
• If you have been exposed to rabies, seek medical care immediately including post-exposure prophylaxis, which is a series of shots that can protect you from rabies.
• Symptoms of rabies in humans include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, confusion, and difficulty swallowing. Seek care immediately if you are displaying symptoms.

Please visit this link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage for information about patient care for preventing rabies.

Currently vaccinated pets should be revaccinated immediately and restrained (confinement and leashing) for 45 days.

Unvaccinated pets should be vaccinated and placed in a strict isolation for 90 days and given booster vaccinations during the 3rd and 8th weeks of isolation. If that is not possible, unvaccinated pets bitten by a known rabid animal should be humanely euthanized under public health regulations. 

Vaccination is the best way to prevent this tragic outcome.

Click here for more information about rabies from DSHS.

Click here for more information about rabies from the CDC.