Virology Section
The Virology Section's mission is:
- Rapid identification of viruses causing disease outbreak, e.g. influenza.
- Provide surveillance and monitoring data for future outbreaks prevention.
- Emergency serological testing on specimens from patients suspected of having measles or rubella.
- Only source in South Carolina for identification of Rabies in animals.
Rabies
Specimens received from both the public and private sectors. Raccoons, foxes and bats pose a high risk of exposure for individuals bitten or scratched. Anyone bitten, scratched or exposed to saliva of a rabid animal must receive preventive treatment for rabies. Approximately 400 residents of South Carolina receive treatment each year after exposure to a rabid animal or one suspected of being rabid.
In Fiscal Year 2000 all rabid foxes, skunks, bobcats, cats and dogs were found to have the raccoon strain virus. All bats tat are tested in the laboratory are speciated.