Have you or your pets come into contact with an aggressive black cat along the Rivanna Trail on Nov. 3 or 4? YThe Blue Ridge Health District want you to get in touch — there was a confirmed case of a cat with rabies.
According to the Virginia Department of Health’s press release, a black cat exhibiting aggressive behavior was captured on Nov. 4 along the Rivanna Trail near the Free Bridge, as well as around River Road and Belleview Avenue. The cat was tested for rabies, and the results came back positive on Nov. 12.
Rabies is a nearly always fatal disease in humans and pets once symptoms appear — which can happen in two to three months after exposure, according to the World Health Organization. It’s crucial to treat the possible infection before the symptoms appear to avoid the worst outcome.
The health department is urging anyone who may have had contact with a black cat in the area, especially if you were scratched, bitten or exposed to its saliva, to immediately reach out to the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department so a professional can ask a series of questions to decide if you need medication and a series of vaccine shots to support the immune system.
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