Last Updated: November 22, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 22, 2024
Media Contact: Katherine Schroeder, Population Health Manager 540-486-6627
(Winchester, Va.) — The Lord Fairfax Health District reports that an adult cat that has tested positive for rabies. The cat, a long-haired, black, female, was located at the Bosley Trailer Park on Bosley Drive, Stanley, VA (Page County) and attacked two individuals. After showing neurological deficits, the cat was tested for rabies. A positive test result was received on November 22, 2024, confirming the rabies virus. Anyone with contact to any stray cats or kittens in the area of the trailer park are urged to contact their local health department. The public should not engage in any contact with any stray animals in the area.
This incident is a reminder that rabies is present in Virginia. Rabies is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system and is lethal if proper medical care is not given following an exposure to the virus. The most common source of exposure to rabies is a bite by a rabid animal. Rabies may also be transmitted by saliva from a rabid animal coming into contact with open wounds, the mouth, eyes, or nose.
The health department further advises:
- Avoid stray cats and dogs. Feral or unknown cats and dogs may also carry rabies; feral cats are especially high-risk. Report bites or scratches from these animals to your physician or the health department right away.
- Never approach or touch wild animals, especially any raccoon, fox, skunk or bat, especially if it is behaving oddly or if it is seen in the daylight. These animals are the main carriers of rabies in the eastern United States.
- Vaccinate all cats, dogs and ferrets against rabies (even if they don’t go outdoors) and keep their shots up to date. Vaccinate working barn cats as well, for their protection and yours. Discuss vaccinating livestock with your veterinarian.
- Do not feed wild animals or stray cats and dogs. Eliminate outdoor food sources around the home.
- Keep pets confined to your property or walk them on a leash.
- If one of your domestic animals is bitten or otherwise interacts with a wild animal, notify the local health department and animal control at once, and have your animal seen by a veterinarian.
If you are bitten, scratched, or licked by any of these high-risk animals, wash the wound(s) thoroughly with warm soapy water and contact animal control, your doctor, or the health department for further recommendations immediately. Rabies is fatal to both animals and humans once symptoms begin, but it can be prevented in humans if they receive vaccine and medication soon after exposure.
Finally, if in doubt, or if you have a question, call your local health department: Page County Health Department at 540-743-6528 or the health district’s afterhours number 540-665-8611.
Additional information on rabies is available at www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html.
The Lord Fairfax Health District serves residents in the city of Winchester and Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah and Warren counties. For more information, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/lord-fairfax/.
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