Rabid cat found in Emporia

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By Brandy Nance (Contact)

Friday, April 25, 2008

Rabies has been confirmed in a cat that was at large in Emporia.

Renee Hively, of the Lyon County Health Department, said in a press release that the cat was picked up on April 22 in the 400 block of South Cottonwood after being observed on the Logan Avenue School playground. The cat was picked up by Emporia Police Department.

Testing was ordered of the cat and it was confirmed it had rabies.

“Anyone in direct contact with the rabid cat on that day or any time in the preceding 15 days should contact the Lyon County Health Department to determine if treatment is required,” Hively said. “The cat was described as a yellow and white adult cat that appeared very unhealthy and unsteady, particularly on its hind legs.”

Rabies is deadly and is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. It can be found in the saliva and nervous tissue of sick animals. The most common exposure is a bite from an infected animal. Other types of exposure that are uncommon are scratches or mucous membrane exposure (such as the eyes or inside of the mouth) from an infected animal.

“Exposure from bats is more difficult to determine,” Hively said. “So finding a bat in the bedroom of a sleeping child or waking to find a bat in a bedroom or any known bites or scratches from a bat, are considered exposure.”

Two forms of rabies exist: furious (or vicious) and dumb rabies. The first sign in animals who have furious rabies is change in personality or behavior of the animal. Other signs include refusal to eat or drink, unusual excitability or restlessness, snapping or growling at moving objects and breaking teeth because of excessive chewing on objects. The final symptom is paralysis, followed by death in a few days. In dumb rabies, the animal usually develops a progressive paralysis but the other symptoms are rarely seen.

Hively said if someone is potentially exposed to rabies they should not wait for signs of the disease to seek treatment. By the time signs and symptoms show up, it’s too late and rabies is always fatal.

“There is presently no test available to diagnose rabies in people before signs develop,” Hively said.

Any warm-blooded animal can be infected with rabies. In Kansas, the primary animal is the skunk. Several other animals have been found with rabies including bats, fox, raccoons, cats, dogs and livestock.

Ann Mayo, environmental health manager, said Lyon County has had three confirmed rabid animals in 2008. In January, a skunk near Hartford tested positive and a skunk at the north end of Emporia State University was found two weeks ago also was positive.