On April 13, 2013, the FCHD received a report from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Rabies Laboratory confirming that a large, adult, domestic short hair, brown tabby cat had tested positive for the rabies virus.
CONTACT: Susan Harding, Public Information Officer, 301-600-1385
For Immediate Release: Monday, April 15, 2013
Cat Tests Positive for Rabies in Ijamsville
Frederick, MD – On April 13, 2013, the Frederick County Health Department received a report from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Rabies Laboratory confirming that a large, adult, domestic short hair, brown tabby cat had tested positive for the rabies virus. The stray cat was picked up on Thursday, April 11, 2013 between Green Meadows Petting Farm and St. Ignatius Loyola (on Fingerboard Road and Price Distillery Road) in Ijamsville, MD, after attacking a local resident.
The Health Department recommends that anyone who may have had contact with this cat from March 22 to April 11, 2013, should consult their health care provider and notify the Health Department at 301-600-3342. If any of your pets may have been in contact with the cat, contact your veterinarian and notify the Health Department at 301-600-1717.
George Keller, Director for the Health Department’s Environmental Health Services advises the public, “To protect your family from possible rabies exposure, do not touch or play with wild or stray animals and make sure that your pets are currently vaccinated”.
Rabies is a viral disease that infects mammals (warm-blooded animals who nurse their young) and is spread by the saliva of the infected animal. Human cases of rabies are fatal if untreated. Symptoms of rabies in animals can include fear of water, limping, salivating, unusually friendly or aggressive behavior, or other atypical behaviors such as nocturnal animals emerging during the daytime. Cats account for the majority of rabies in domestic animals in Maryland.
If you have a stray animal on your property, do not touch it and do not attempt to contain it. If you or your pets have contact with a stray or wild, you should call Animal Control at 301-600-1544 to speak with an Animal Control Officer.
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