(Salisbury, MD) – A stray cat located on the 8000 block of Bi-State Blvd in Delmar, MD has tested positive for Rabies. The cat was sent to the MD State Laboratory for testing after exhibiting aggressive symptoms and biting a person. The positive test results were received Monday, August 13, 2018. The cat is described as a brown tiger domestic shorthair cat. Anyone that has come into contact with a cat fitting that description in the specified area should contact the Wicomico County Health Department at 410-546-4446 during business hours or 410-543-6996 after hours.
Once infected, rabies is a virus that has a 100% fatality rate when left untreated, in mammals including humans. Wicomico Health recommends the following precautions to protect yourself and your family from possible exposure to rabies:
· Report any sick or strange acting wildlife
· Vaccinate pets and livestock. Maryland law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age. Vaccinating your domestic animal not only provides protection for the animal, but vaccinated pets act as a barrier to keep the rabies virus from spreading between wild animals and people.
· Do not feed wildlife or stray animals and discourage them from seeking food near your home.
· Do not feed strays.
· Do not approach an unknown animal, either wild or domestic, especially if it is acting in a strange or unusual manner.
· Keep garbage cans tightly covered and avoid storing any food outside.
· Children should be instructed to tell an adult immediately if they were bitten or scratched by any animal. If an unvaccinated pet comes in contact with rabid or suspected rabies the pet must be quarantined for six months.
· Vaccinated pets that come in contact with rabid or suspected rabies animal must be given a booster rabies vaccination within five days of the contact.
All animal bites or scratches should be reported to the Wicomico County Health Department at (410) 546-4446 during business hours and 410-543-6996 after hours.
Only you can protect your family and pets from the deadly rabies virus. For more information, please call the Wicomico County Health Department, Environmental Health Division at 410-546-4446 or visit www.wicomicohealth.org.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
6 comments:
from the sheriff's office cat team?
Delmar needs to catch and kill all of the stray and feral cats that roam the town. There are hundreds of stray and feral cats in Delmar city limits. Drive on any street and you will see dozens of cats laying around (and even right in the middle of the streets), walking around, and running after each other for more sex and then more baby kittens. Get rid of these damn cats and there will not be cats with rabies in Delmar.
Does anyone know how long it would take for symptoms to start showing up after you have been bitten? And then how much longer do you have to live?
There is nothing more exciting and fun for a child than snuggling a little kitten. It is hard to explain to children that the sweet little ball of fur is possibly deadly to them. They don't tell anyone that the kitten is living under the porch because they don't want it to go away and mom or dad have not explained these dangers to the degree necessary to save lives. I hope that animal control is taking this seriously and will be out to collect all stray cats with no identification. Houses on both sides of us have cats that roam at all hours and spray everything. They have been put on notice that they really need to get this job done before a child dies of rabies.
And who is to blame for all of the cats. Not the cats themselves but irresponsible humans that leave their cats outside don’t spay and neuter their cats move away and leave their cats. And don’t vaccinate their cats. You act like the cats did this to themselves.
it can months or days for symptoms to show up once bitten. But once symptoms start to show its a matter of a few days. The protocal is to quarantine for 10 days if you suspect that pet is affected, usually if they are they will be dead in site of a couple days. 10 days is overkill to be on the safe side.If you suspect a pet is affected then you should take precaution and get the shots even tho that pet is quarantined. If bitten there is a window of opportunity to protect yourself...The only way to tell for sure is to kill it and have the brain tested. Rabies travels from the brain thru the nervous system and then thru the spine. If you kill a animal stay away from the head as to thats where rabies is contained until it becomes active then it travels the nervous system thru the spine. If you think you have a issue with a pet. Get the shots, they are no big deal now days vs what they were years ago. Report it get that animal quarantined let the experts call the shot on how to handle the specific situation, Dont take changes with kids. The best way to prevent rabies is to keep your pets indoors and stay away from animals that you dont know. There is a lot of information on rabies on the net just google rabbies and you will find a lot of information. I went thru the shots a few years ago. So i know they are no big deal now days. Dont take chances. Rabies are a death sentence once the symptoms show up.you have just a few days. 2-3 so dont risk it.
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