Rabid Cat Found In North Bethesda Warn Health Officials

NORTH BETHESDA, MD — A gray domestic short-haired cat with what appeared to be an injured hind leg found in the area of White Flint Station condominiums, near Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road, has tested positive for rabies.

Montgomery County public health officials would like to talk to anyone who may have had contact with the cat to discuss the type of contact and any future actions or treatments that may be needed. When left untreated, rabies is fatal in humans.

Call the Department of Health and Human Services Disease Control Program at 240-777-1755 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. if you think you may have had contact with the cat.

When a person is bitten or exposed to the saliva of a rabid animal, the disease is prevented with a four dose rabies vaccine series administered over a 14-day period and a dose of rabies immunoglobulin given at the beginning of the series (rabies post-exposure prophylaxis). Each year, about 900 Marylanders receive preventive treatment after exposure to a rabid or potentially rabid animal.

To prevent your exposure to rabies:

• Do not approach, handle or feed stray dogs and cats and enforce leash laws.
• Teach your children not to approach any unfamiliar animals.
• Have your dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated against rabies and keep the vaccinations up-to-date.
• Do not leave pets outside unattended or allow them to roam free.
• Cover garbage cans tightly and do not leave pet food outside; this may attract wild and stray animals.
• Teach children to stay away from wild animals or animals they do not know.
• Prevent bats from entering your home by using window screens and chimney caps and by closing any openings greater than ¼ inch by ½ inch. Bats found in the home should be safely collected, if possible, and tested for rabies.
• Wear gloves when handling an animal if it has been in a fight with another animal. Keep it away from people and other animals and call your veterinarian or local health department to report the animal exposure.

If you are bitten by or exposed to an animal that may be rabid, you should take the following steps:

• If it is a wild animal, try to trap it if you can do so safely. If the animal must be killed, try not to damage the head.
• If it is an owned animal, get the animal owner's name, address, and telephone number.
• Immediately wash the wound well with soap and water; if available, use a disinfectant to flush the wound.
• Get prompt medical attention.
• Immediately report the exposure to your local animal control agency, health department, or police.
• Consider treatment if a bat was present and exposure cannot be reasonably ruled out (e.g., a sleeping person awakens to find a bat in the room, or an adult sees a bat in the room with a previously unattended child or mentally disabled or intoxicated person).

To learn more about rabies in Maryland, including rabies surveillance statistics and efforts to prevent and control the disease, visit the DHMH website
https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/CZVBD/Pages/rabies.aspx .

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