Stray Cat Tests Positive for Rabies in Chesapeake; Man Scratched and Bitten While Feeding It
The Virginia Department of Health reported on October 20 that a stray cat in Chesapeake has tested positive for rabies after injuring a man. On October 14, the man was scratched and bitten on the face and hands while trying to feed a feral cat behind the Cypress Landing Apartments at 40 Knells Ridge Blvd; the cat tested positive, and the man is receiving treatment.
Health officials say rabies cases in Virginia's eastern region have risen this year; raccoons, skunks and foxes are common carriers and can pass the virus to unvaccinated stray or pet animals. Environmental health manager Derek Hunt said residents who feed stray animals mean well, but direct contact should be left to professional animal services.
The health department advises: do not touch or try to catch stray animals; report sick or injured animals to Chesapeake's non-emergency line at 757-382-6161; state law requires dogs and cats over four months old to be vaccinated against rabies; treatment after exposure is fully effective at preventing the disease, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 流浪猫（弗吉尼亚州实拍）（图片：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 3.0）/ A feral cat photographed in Virginia (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0)
