Kitten found on porch turns out to be rabid and bites Alabama resident, officials say
A kitten found on an Alabama porch turned out to be rabid and bit the person taking care of it, prompting a statewide reminder to vaccinate pets, Alabama officials said.
A resident spotted the 8-week-old kitten abandoned on their porch and began to look after it, according to a news release from the Alabama Public Health Department. The kitten was believed to be from a feral cat colony near the residence.
The kitten bit the resident and died several days later after falling ill, according to the department. The person who was bitten is seeking medical care, the release said.
“In a world of emerging infectious diseases, rabies is certainly not new, but it remains a threat to people and animals,” State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Dee Jones said. “Fortunately, there are very effective, accessible prevention methods in animals; unfortunately, sometimes it just comes down to compliance. Cases of rabies in domestic animals give ADPH an opportunity to remind people of the need to be vigilant on vaccinating their animals.”
Public health workers are investigating the cat colony nearby, the release said.
ADPH advised residents to take precautions to avoid exposure to rabies including:
- “Do not allow pets to run loose; confine them within a fenced-in area or with a leash.”
- “Do not leave uneaten pet food or scraps near your residence.”
- “Do not illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets.”
- “Do not go near wildlife or domestic animals that are acting in a strange or unusual manner.”
- “Caution children not to go near any stray or wild animal, regardless of its behavior.”
This story was originally published September 20, 2022 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Kitten found on porch turns out to be rabid and bites Alabama resident, officials say."
