Aiken County health officials confirmed a rabid horse near Wire Road and Jaws Lane in Aiken on August 19, 2026, leading to the exposure of thirteen people. This incident marks the seventh confirmed rabies case in Aiken County this year.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH) received the animal for testing on August 18, 2026, and confirmed the positive rabies result the following day. All thirteen individuals exposed to the horse have been directed to their healthcare providers for evaluation and treatment.
Across South Carolina, health officials are urging residents to remain vigilant after three animals in separate counties recently tested positive for rabies. In addition to the Aiken County horse, a skunk in Anderson County and a raccoon in Charleston County were also confirmed to have the virus. Four dogs were exposed to these other infected animals.
The skunk in Anderson County, found near Stratford Drive and Reed Road, was submitted for testing on August 17, 2026, and confirmed positive on August 18, 2026. Two dogs exposed to this skunk will undergo quarantine as mandated by the South Carolina Rabies Control Act. This is the eighth rabid animal identified in Anderson County in 2026.
Similarly, a raccoon found near Brevard and Harvard roads in Charleston tested positive for rabies after being submitted for testing on August 17, 2026, and confirmed on August 18, 2026. Two dogs exposed to the raccoon will also be quarantined. This case represents the ninth confirmed rabies incident in Charleston County this year.
Statewide, South Carolina has recorded 72 rabid animals so far in 2026. For comparison, the state documented 101 confirmed cases throughout 2025, which included three in Aiken County, eleven in Anderson County, and nine in Charleston County. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 136 positive rabies cases annually.
SCDPH rabies program manager Terri McCollister emphasized the importance of vaccination. McCollister stated that keeping pets and livestock current on rabies vaccinations is a responsibility of animal ownership and an effective way to protect families and animals from the fatal disease. State law mandates continuous rabies vaccination for dogs, cats, and ferrets. SCDPH also advises vaccinating livestock when an approved vaccine is available.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is typically transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Once clinical symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal, making prompt treatment after potential exposure crucial. Anyone who suspects contact with an infected animal should contact SCDPH’s 24-hour rabies reporting line at 888-847-0902 and select Option 2.
