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Loudoun Co. health officials on alert after cat found with rabies
WTOP • • health
Key Points:
- Loudoun County health officials are urging anyone who may have been exposed to a rabid cat in South Riding between June 6 and June 16 to contact their healthcare provider or the health department for evaluation and possible treatment.
- The rabid cat, euthanized on June 26, was seen with five kittens near Crossfield Drive and Center Street; one person had contact with the cat on June 18 and is receiving treatment.
- Rabies remains a concern in the region, with 117 animals testing positive in Virginia during the first quarter of the year, though no human cases have been reported since 2009.
- Maryland’s Carroll County Health Department also warns residents who attended a July 3 fireworks display to seek rabies risk assessment after bats were disturbed, as bat bites can be small and unnoticed.
- Health officials emphasize avoiding contact with wild or unfamiliar animals, prompt medical care after potential exposure, and ensuring pets are vaccinated against rabies to prevent this almost always fatal disease.
