(Gloucester Township, NJ) – The Camden County Health Department has been notified by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that a cat found in Gloucester Township has tested positive for rabies.
After an injured cat was brought inside by a resident, it was taken to a local vet and then an animal shelter. The cat then began exhibiting signs of rabies, was euthanized and the shelter arranged for rabies testing at the state Public Health & Environmental Laboratories in Trenton (PHEL). On November 20, the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services was notified by PHEL that the animal was rabid.
There are two human exposures to the cat. These individuals were notified and were directed to their physicians to discuss rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). There were also three cats exposed to the rabid cat and the owners were directed to get the cats boosters for rabies.
“Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment,” said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Camden County Health Department. “If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention.”
Betteridge urged county residents to observe a few simple rules, including acting responsibly as a pet owner:
- Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets.
- Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
- Contact your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.
Betteridge said it is also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:
- Enjoy wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes from afar. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or liter.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they seem friendly.
- Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people or pets.
- When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries. Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year in these countries.
More information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/