Rabies-Infected Feral Cats Attack Humans

[n2doc]

Rabies-Infected Feral Cats Attack Humans

Posted: 11:14 am EDT April 16, 2010
Updated: 6:06 pm EDT April 16, 2010

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- The Volusia County Health Department issued a rabies alert for 60 days Friday, following two unprovoked attacks on humans by feral cats within the past month.

The health department said the rabies alert encompasses sections of Port Orange, South Daytona and unincorporated parts of Volusia in an area bounded on the north by Beville Boulevard, south by Madeline Avenue, east by Nova Road and west by Clyde Morris Boulevard.

Over a 35 day period, two cats tested positive for rabies in the alert area. The first incident occurred on March 9 near the corner of Nova Road and Beville Road when a motorist hit a cat that wandered into its path. Both the driver and a passenger were bitten when they attempted to help the sick and injured animal.

The second incident occurred in Port Orange on April 12 when a small black and white cat ran into the garage of a home in a subdivision located between Reed Canal and Madeline Avenue through an open door and attacked the homeowner. The woman inside tried to chase it out, but it locked onto her leg and wouldn't let go.

"We hear a lot of cat fights, at night. There's quite a few around here. But this is the first time I've heard of any being aggressive," said one resident.

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http://www.wftv.com/news/23172192/detail.html

[htuttle]

1. Wasn't this on the SciFi channel a few weeks ago?

[Lars39]

2. My grandfather was almost bitten by 2 rabid feral cats.

They chased him into the house from way out in the yard. He barely got the screen door closed before they jumped on it. He shot 'em thru the door.

[mzteris]

4. rabid dog chased my mom when she was a girl.

She had to climb a tree and wait for people to come looking for her. . .

[Lars39]

5. Glad she was a climber!

[d_r]

3. give it a little time

the burmese pythons will take care of them when they get that far north

[kestrel91316]

6. The pythons apparently all died in the recent cold snap. Or MOST of them did.

[d_r]

8. good!!!!

[kestrel91316]

7. We are fortunate in that the post-exposure prophylaxis in use is not only

virtually 100% effective if given properly and in a timely manner, but in no way resembles the horror of old-fashioned painful rabies treatment (which went by the wayside in the US nearly 30 years ago but is still erroneously referenced by the clueless MSM at times).

[KittyWampus]

9. I have worked with and tended to feral cats. Rabies hasn't happened here but it's a bad sign

for the kitties :(