FALLSBURG – Sullivan County Public Health Services officials are advising people to stay away from stray cats and wild animals and to be vigilant of their surroundings, especially if they live or work near a wooded area or neighborhood with feral cats.
A feral kitten recently bit a person in the Town of Fallsburg and they are now being treated for rabies exposure.
Public health officials are conducting an investigation with animal control to determine if more people have been exposed.
Rabies continues to be a concern in Sullivan County. Summer and warmer weather means more time outdoors as well as an increase in the wild animal population.
Health officials warn that rabies is a deadly disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord and can be transmitted from infected mammals to humans and other mammals. It is most commonly found in raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.
Pets can get rabies if they are not vaccinated to protect them from the disease.
