DEER LAKE — A cat found in Deer Lake, Schuylkill County, tested positive for rabies after reportedly biting two people and scratching a third, according to Save the Strays of Schuylkill – Cat Rescue.
Rescue Reports Positive Rabies Test
In a public alert, the rescue said it took in the sick cat during the previous week and kept it under observation while awaiting a veterinary appointment. The animal was ill when it arrived and later developed aggression and unusual behavior, according to the group.
The cat was taken to Ringtown Valley Veterinary Hospital for evaluation, deemed dangerous and humanely euthanized, the rescue said. The animal was then submitted for rabies testing, which returned a positive result.
Ringtown Valley Veterinary Hospital also issued an alert reporting a positive rabies case involving a cat found in Deer Lake.
The rescue described the animal as an unneutered gray-and-white male domestic shorthair. It included a photograph and map in its alert to help identify anyone who may have come into contact with the cat.
The rescue’s post did not state whether the people who were bitten or scratched received medical treatment.
What to Do After a Possible Rabies Exposure
Rabies is a preventable viral disease that primarily affects the central nervous system. It usually spreads to people through bites or scratches from an infected animal and is nearly always fatal once symptoms develop.
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to the cat should:
- Immediately wash any bite or scratch thoroughly with soap and water.
- Seek urgent medical attention for an exposure assessment and possible preventive treatment.
- Provide health officials with as much information as possible about the animal and the exposure.
Additional information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s rabies resource page.
The rescue directed residents seeking local information to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Schuylkill County State Health Center at 570-621-3112.
Residents Urged to Avoid Stray Animals
Residents should avoid handling unfamiliar stray animals or wildlife and should contact animal-control authorities or an appropriate rescue organization for assistance.
Ringtown Valley Veterinary Hospital also urged pet owners to make sure their animals are current on rabies vaccinations and to schedule a veterinary appointment promptly if they are not.