Rabid Cow At San Antonio Stock Show And Rodeo Prompts Warning

From the City of San Antonio:

Published on Saturday, February 29, 2020

The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting a cow that tested positive for rabies who was at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Feb. 11-14. The solid black cow, a Brangus heifer, was shown by a student from another county. The cow was only outside of the barn while being shown and loaded and unloaded for transport. Public health officials have been in contact with the people who were caring for the cow and the animals in nearby stalls, so their risk can be assessed.

Rabies is spread through the saliva of infected animals. Anyone who put their hand in the cow’s mouth or nose or had contact between the animal’s saliva and an open wound or mucous membrane like the eyes, nose or mouth should be evaluated for a rabies exposure. Someone in that situation should contact their health care provider as soon as possible and explain the situation. People who didn’t have that kind of contact with the cow are not at risk of contracting the disease. We do believe all individuals who had been in contact with the cow have been identified and have been provided treatment.

Rabies can be prevented if treatment is started before symptoms begin, however, once symptoms start, it’s almost always fatal. It usually takes between three weeks and three months for someone exposed to rabies to get sick.

Bexar County residents who visited the cattle barn on those dates and have questions or concerns may contact the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District at 210-207-8876. People who live outside of Bexar County may contact their DSHS regional Zoonosis Control office. Maps of the fairgrounds and the cattle barn with the location of the stall marked in red are available at: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/2020/20200229.aspx

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.