Rabid cow may have infected people at a Texas livestock show, officials say

A cow in Texas has tested positive for rabies after being shown at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo between Feb. 11 and 14, officials say. Attendees may have been exposed.

The black cow — a Brangus heifer — was shown by a Miller Grove ISD student and was contagious during the show, officials said in a news release.

Miller Grove is roughly 70 miles east of Dallas.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is warning anyone who visited the cattle barn that they may need to be tested for rabies, according to the release.

Because rabies is spread through the saliva of infected animals, officials say anyone who put their hands near the cow’s mouth, nose or eyes or had contact with its saliva needs to be tested, the release said.

Anyone who didn’t have that kind of contact with the cow is not at risk of contracting rabies, officials say. People who did should contact their health care provider and explain the situation.

It can take between three weeks and three months for someone exposed to rabies to start noticing symptoms.

Health officials say rabies can be treated before symptoms begin, but once symptoms start, it’s almost always fatal.

Only 20 cases of humans surviving clinical rabies have been documented, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Early symptoms of rabies can mimic the flu and include fever, headache and general weakness, the CDC says.

Anyone with question can contact San Antonio Metropolitan Health District at 210-207-8876.

This story was originally published March 1, 2020 at 2:47 PM.