Rabid Cat May Have Exposed 2 People To The Disease In Gloucester Township

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A now-deceased cat found in Gloucester Township tested positive for rabies, officials said Wednesday.

The creature potentially exposed two people and three other cats to the deadly virus, according to the Camden County Health Department. Officials directed the two people to their physicians to discuss rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and advised the cats' owners to get their pets boosted for rabies.

After a township resident brought an injured cat inside, it was taken to a local veterinarian and then an animal shelter. The cat was euthanized after it began showing signs of rabies, officials said.

The shelter arranged for rabies testing at the state Public Health & Environmental Laboratories in Trenton. The lab informed county health officials Tuesday that the cat was rabid.

Human deaths from rabies are rare in the United States, occurring only once or twice per year since 1960, according to the CDC. But rabies is fatal in more than 99 percent of cases, with no treatment once signs or symptoms emerge, so post-exposure treatment is vital for people and animals.

"Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment," said County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge. "If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention."

Betteridge, the liaison to the county health department, urged pet owners to take the following steps:

• 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.

It's also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals, Betteridge says:

• 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 litter.
• 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, which have higher death tolls from the disease.

For more information about rabies, visit the CDC's webpage. Camden County residents can call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 856-374-6370.