[March 14, 2009] Rabies confirmed in cat in Rockingham County Tweet Mar 14, 2009 (The Reidsville Review - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The state Laboratory of Public Health has confirmed a stray cat that bit a child in Rockingham County on March 6 has tested positive for rabies. "I've been here more than 20 years, and we've never had a cat test positive for rabies. It's very unusual that you have a domestic animal to test positive," said Ted Nelson, environmental health director for Rockingham County. He said two dogs were confirmed positive for the rabies virus in separate cases two years ago. A feral cat came out of the woods and attacked and bit a child on the left leg outside a home off Manley Farm Road in Reidsville. The child started a series of rabies prophylaxis shots Wednesday. "The child is doing fine. We got to it quickly, so we don't think it's going to be a problem," said Nelson. "If the parents hadn't realized, it could've been a problem." The rabies virus affects the central nervous system, and untreated cases ultimately lead to death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The treatment of rabies is made up of a series of shots over a one-month period, said Nelson. Six other people may have been exposed to the rabid cat that attacked the child, according to the Rockingham County Department of Public Health. At least one person has scheduled treatment. The rabid cat was a pregnant female described as "skinny, hunchbacked, and gray and white," according to a news release. Because the cat was pregnant, public health officials believe other cats, including the father, could have been exposed to the rabies virus. Nelson said animal control officers from the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office have picked up seven cats and two puppies that are believed to have some connection to the cat. "Our animal control officers didn't take this lightly. They dealt with it, and I think they're to be commended for that," said Dean Venable, sheriff's spokesman. The puppies will be kept under observation for 10 days to see if they develop symptoms. If owners of the animals can't be identified, the animals will be euthanized. Two vaccinated dogs will receive booster shots. "If everybody was a very responsible pet owner, you'd have a decreased number of these type of incidences," said Venable. He stressed the importance of pet owners getting their animal vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and keeping their animals on their property. Nelson said the animals were found near where the attack happened, leading public health officials to believe that stray cats are a problem in that area. A member of the animal shelter advisory committee, Nelson looks forward to the opening of the new shelter. "It would be a nice, modern facility where adoption can be promoted," said Nelson. In light of the recent rabies attack, Nelson advised county residents to be wary of both wild and domestic animals. "The best thing to do is not pet any animal you don't know," said Nelson. He said the most common carriers of rabies are raccoons, followed by skunks, foxes and bats. He said public health officials try to keep rabies out of the domestic animal population because once a domestic animal becomes infected with rabies, the likelihood of spreading the rabies virus to humans increases. The cat-bite case was the second confirmed rabies incident in Rockingham County this year. In 2008, 12 rabid wild animals in the county tested positive for rabies. Anyone in the immediate area of the recent rabid cat incidence who may have been exposed to the rabid cat should call the Rockingham County Environmental Health Division at 342-8180. Staff Writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35. by miranda baines Staff Writer The state Laboratory of Public Health has confirmed a stray cat that bit a child in Rockingham County on March 6 has tested positive for rabies. "I've been here more than 20 years, and we've never had a cat test positive for rabies. It's very unusual that you have a domestic animal to test positive," said Ted Nelson, environmental health director for Rockingham County. He said two dogs were confirmed positive for the rabies virus in separate cases two years ago. A feral cat came out of the woods and attacked and bit a child on the left leg outside a home off Manley Farm Road in Reidsville. The child started a series of rabies prophylaxis shots Wednesday. "The child is doing fine. We got to it quickly, so we don't think it's going to be a problem," said Nelson. "If the parents hadn't realized, it could've been a problem." The rabies virus affects the central nervous system, and untreated cases ultimately lead to death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The treatment of rabies is made up of a series of shots over a one-month period, said Nelson. Six other people may have been exposed to the rabid cat that attacked the child, according to the Rockingham County Department of Public Health. At least one person has scheduled treatment. The rabid cat was a pregnant female described as "skinny, hunchbacked, and gray and white," according to a news release. Because the cat was pregnant, public health officials believe other cats, including the father, could have been exposed to the rabies virus. Nelson said animal control officers from the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office have picked up seven cats and two puppies that are believed to have some connection to the cat. "Our animal control officers didn't take this lightly. They dealt with it, and I think they're to be commended for that," said Dean Venable, sheriff's spokesman. The puppies will be kept under observation for 10 days to see if they develop symptoms. If owners of the animals can't be identified, the animals will be euthanized. Two vaccinated dogs will receive booster shots. "If everybody was a very responsible pet owner, you'd have a decreased number of these type of incidences," said Venable. He stressed the importance of pet owners getting their animal vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and keeping their animals on their property. Nelson said the animals were found near where the attack happened, leading public health officials to believe that stray cats are a problem in that area. A member of the animal shelter advisory committee, Nelson looks forward to the opening of the new shelter. "It would be a nice, modern facility where adoption can be promoted," said Nelson. In light of the recent rabies attack, Nelson advised county residents to be wary of both wild and domestic animals. "The best thing to do is not pet any animal you don't know," said Nelson. He said the most common carriers of rabies are raccoons, followed by skunks, foxes and bats. He said public health officials try to keep rabies out of the domestic animal population because once a domestic animal becomes infected with rabies, the likelihood of spreading the rabies virus to humans increases. The cat-bite case was the second confirmed rabies incident in Rockingham County this year. In 2008, 12 rabid wild animals in the county tested positive for rabies. Anyone in the immediate area of the recent rabid cat incidence who may have been exposed to the rabid cat should call the Rockingham County Environmental Health Division at 342-8180. Staff Writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35. 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