Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cat Tests Positive for Rabies in Yorktown

News Brief graphic
A cat that was found near George Washington Highway and Ella Taylor Road tested positive for rabies. (WYDaily Media)

YORKTOWN — Peninsula Health District (PHD) officials have notified Yorktown residents near the intersection of George Washington Memorial Highway and Ella Taylor Road that a cat in the area has tested positive for rabies.

In a Thursday, Jan. 6 press release, the PHD asks that anyone with information regarding exposure to this animal, particularly through a bite, scratch or contact with the animal’s saliva near the face or open wound, to contact the Environmental Health Office of the Peninsula Health District at (757) 594-7340. Exposures also include direct contact between a pet and the rabid animal.

Anyone calling after business hours should contact the York County Animal Services at (757) 890-3621.

Rabies is fatal disease but it is preventable. It is carried by mammals and has been in the wild animal population on the Hampton Roads Peninsula since the mid-1980s.

Health officials will reach out to all immediate neighbors as well as civic and homeowners’ associations that serve the community.

The PHD would like to remind everyone to follow four guidelines when it comes to rabies prevention.

  • Vaccinate your pets.
  • Report all exposures to animals (usually bites and scratches) to your doctor and the local health department.
  • Enjoy wildlife from a distance – don’t feed or encourage wild animals such as raccoons, skunks or foxes to visit your premises.
  • Do not feed your pets outside, leave trash uncovered, or do anything that may attract wild animals to your property.

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