Stray

Spartanburg County residents advised to vaccinate pets against rabies, avoid stray animals

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A Spartanburg County woman who was bitten by a stray cat is under the care of a physician after the animal tested positive for rabies, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.

“The stray cat tried to run inside the woman’s house, which is near Lyman,” said Sue Ferguson of DHEC’s Bureau of Environmental Health, “and when she blocked it from entering, the cat bit her on the foot. Now, she must undergo treatment to prevent the spread of rabies through her body.”

According to Ferguson, once the rabies virus reaches the brain, the disease is fatal to humans and animals. Anyone bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to the saliva of a rabid animal must undergo immediate measures to stop the virus from reaching the brain. The woman is receiving preventive inoculations.

“Avoid wild animals acting tame and tame animals acting wild,” Ferguson said. “

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Tags: Spartanburg County, Stray

Monday, January 23rd, 2012 Health Articles No Comments