BURRILLVILLE, RI — A stray cat found on Whippel Road tested positive for rabies on May 22.
The cat was tested after biting a person in that area on May 20 and then being found under a homeowner’s deck.
The Rhode Island Department of Health is alerting the public that anyone who may have had direct contact with the cat should immediately call RIDOH’s Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 401-222-2577 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 401-276-8046 after hours so a nurse can assess exposure and determine if treatment is needed.
Anyone who thinks their pet may have come in contact with the cat should call RIDOH, their local Animal Control Officer, and their pet’s veterinarian.
The person who was bitten by the cat has started treatment with post-exposure prophylaxis.
Rabies is a fatal disease if it is not treated before the onset of symptoms.
The rabies virus infects the central nervous system and can cause disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in death if a person does not receive appropriate medical care after exposure.
Rabies treatment must be started as soon as possible after exposure and before symptoms appear.
All dogs, cats, and ferrets are required by state law to have current vaccination against rabies.
Vaccinating pets prevents them from getting rabies and prevents people from becoming exposed to rabies through their pets.
RIDOH recommends making sure all dogs, cats, and ferrets are up to date on rabies vaccination.
The department also recommends avoiding all contact with and not feeding stray or free-roaming domestic animals and wild animals.
Pet owners should not feed animals outdoors, as this will attract other animals.
Pet owners should protect their pets by always maintaining control, walking dogs on a leash or letting them play in a fenced yard, and not letting pets wander unsupervised.
All animal bites should be reported to a city or town’s animal control officer.
Garbage cans should be securely covered so wild animals cannot scavenge for food.
