Rabies Cases in Confirmed in South Carolina

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) recently confirmed that a cat and a fox have tested positive for rabies in separate incidents that impacted people. 

As of July 17, 2025, rabies is most commonly found in South Carolina (S.C.) wildlife, including raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats.

However, most rabies cases in the United States are associated with bat bites, not dog bites.

In Greenville County, the cat that tested positive for rabies was found near Holland Ford and Beech Springs roads in Pelzer, S.C.

In 2024, six of the 81 confirmed rabies cases in S.C. were in Greenville County, which has a population exceeding 500,000.

In Marion County, the fox that tested positive for rabies was found near the intersection of Sandhill and Ellis roads in Marion. One person was exposed and has been referred to their healthcare provider. This fox is the third animal to test positive for rabies in that county in 2025.

There have been 45 cases of rabid animals in S.C. in 2025.

Since 2002, S.C. has averaged approximately 144 positive cases a year.

Terri McCollister, DPH, Rabies Program manager, commented in a press release, “Any mammal can carry and transmit the rabies virus to people or pets. Therefore, give wild and stray animals plenty of space.”

According to the DPH, rabies is a treatable and vaccine-preventable disease. Rabies information for local Public Health offices is available at dph.sc.gov/RabiesContacts. For more information on rabies, visit  dph.sc.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.