FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 19, 2007

Spartanburg County residents alerted about rabies

COLUMBIA – Two Chesnee residents who were bitten by a cat are under the care of a physician after the cat tested positive for rabies, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said today.

“Two family members were attacked by their pet cat,” said Sue Ferguson of DHEC's Bureau of Environmental Health. “Both are receiving preventive inoculations.”

“About 400 South Carolinians undergo preventive treatment for rabies every year, with most exposures from being bitten or scratched by a rabid or suspected rabid animal,” Ferguson said. “Anyone bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to the saliva of a rabid animal must undergo immediate measures to stop the virus because, once the rabies virus reaches the brain, the disease is fatal to humans and animals.

“Avoid wild animals acting tame and tame animals acting wild,” she said. “Wild animals carry the disease most often but, as in this case, domestic pets can also contract rabies.

“Therefore, to protect both the pets, their owners and other members of the community, we strongly encourage every pet owner to make sure their cats, dogs and ferrets are regularly vaccinated against the disease. State law requires that all pets be vaccinated against rabies.

“If you think you have been exposed to the rabies virus through a bite, scratch or the saliva of a possibly infected animal, immediately wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water,” Ferguson said. “Then be sure to get medical attention and report the incident to DHEC.”

This is the 15th confirmed rabid animal in Spartanburg County in 2007. Last year, there were six rabid animals confirmed in the county. In 2006, there were 180 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in South Carolina. So far this year, there have been 130 confirmed cases in animals in the state.

For more information about rabies, see DHEC's Web page at: http://www.scdhec.gov/rabies or contact DHEC’s Spartanburg County Environmental Health office at (864) 596-2227. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web page about rabies can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies.

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For more information:
 Clair Boatwright – (803) 898-4461
E-mail – boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov
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