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Rabid Cat Attacks: Six People Bitten, Scratched Or Exposed To Rabies
October 29, 2009
Six more people — including at least one animal control worker — were exposed to rabies following an incident with a rabid cat in the McDavid area.
The Escambia County Health Department confirms the incident occurred, but they won’t confirm the location of the incident, citing concerns that identifying the community would violate health privacy laws. But NorthEscambia.com has learned the incident occurred Friday night near McDavid.
According to a source familiar with the incident, a woman was bitten outside her home. She retreated inside her house and called for help from a neighbor because she feared going back outdoors where the cat remained. We are told that four or five people total were bitten or scratched by the animal. Some those attacked by the cat were attempting to trap the cat. Health department officials would confirm that an animal control worker called to the scene was also “exposed” to rabies.
“At least six people were exposed to this feral cat,” according to Molly Payne-Hardin, spokesperson for the Escambia County Health Department, “some during the course of trying to trap it.”
The entire North Escambia area is under a rabies alert until November 29. The alert was first issued at the end of August after at least three incidents involving rabid animals — a dog was bitten by a rabid raccoon in May on Crabtree Church Road in Molino, a dog was bitten by a rabid racoon on Handy Road in Cottage Hill in August and a person was bitten by a rabid fox somewhere in North Escambia in August.
The rabies alert was extended in September after the health department received laboratory-confirmation of rabies in a skunk and two raccoons. The skunk and raccoons were sent for testing after interacting with pets and, in one case, a pet owner. These positive tests were in addition to the rabid animals that prompted the August alert.
Payne-Hardin said there were no immediate plans to further extend the rabies alert after the incident involving the rabid cat.
“Rabies will kill humans and their pets if it is not treated,” said Dr. John Lanza, director of the Escambia County Health Department. “I urge residents to keep their pets vaccinated, to stay away from wild animals, and to take basic precautions to keep wild animals from coming to your home.”
In all of the recent incidents, Payne-Hardin said there is one common denominator.
“All of the rabid animals were attracted to pet food that was left outside,” she said. “It is import to not leave pet food outdoors after your pet has ate, even it you bring it in just for the night.”
The rabies alert is for all of North Escambia, from Muscogee Road north to the Alabama state line, including all areas between the Escambia and Perdido rivers north of Musocogee Road.
Comments
21 Responses to “Rabid Cat Attacks: Six People Bitten, Scratched Or Exposed To Rabies”
I live in the house in front of where the dog was bitten by a rabid coon in August. I knew absolutely nothing about it until I read it on this site. I was furious that no one notified us, not the animal control (who said it was the health dept’s responsibility), not the health dept and not the neighbors, who coincidentally were allowed to keep the dog at home in “quarantine” for 10 days, but during that time, he was in my yard. We pet this dog all the time. What if he HAD gotten rabies from this and bitten one of us? How irresponsible is that?!?
We need to be notified when something like this happens near our homes. Why don’t they use the reverse 911 system to notify each household? We know that tv and newsprint don’t reach everyone. This is ridiculous to not even tell the people who live less than 100 yards from where it happens and are in frequent contact with the animals involved.
Seems as though there could be something worth more in arguing about then an animal with rabies. As far a HIPAA I do not believe that people have a clear understanding of what HIPAA is. Cats are known for carrying several diseases anyway so why is it that since one cat looses it everyone has to point fingers at everyone, or everything. People watch to much of the VIEW.
Thanks Bubles and Bogian for this info, I hope every is ok and doing better.
REGARDING:
“Part of rabies is that it makes the animals no longer scared of humans.”
Auburn University once scooped up dead raccoons along the interstate highway and tested them for rabies.
Over 90% had rabies.
Are most coons rabid?
No, just the ones who aren’t scared of cars and trucks.
They ain’t scared of nothin
It should be mentioned that, while the cat may not have charged at Bubbles, it did charge at the woman mentioned in the article (my mom). Also, rabid animals are not necessarily attracted only because there is food outside. We had no food anywhere outside when the cat, totally unprovoked, ran across the yard and bit her (she didn’t even know the cat was there). Before that, my boyfriend was scratched because as soon as he got out of his truck, the cat was on his leg (again, he didn’t know the cat was in the yard either).
It just seems necessary to let everyone know that rabid animals don’t always have a reason for attacking…I suppose that’s the nature of rabies. So be very careful! Just because there’s no food outside or you’re not bothering it, the animal may still try to bite you! Part of rabies is that it makes the animals no longer scared of humans.
I guess that’s what we get for living in the country…
The cat in question in this story was infact caught and died with in 2 days of being captured and then was tested and found out it was infact rabies. This cat looked like a normal starved house cat and acted affectionate when I came in contact with it. Only when I tried touching it did it lash out. It did not charge me nor just run up and attack me. Being the first person in contact with it , I believe it was still going crazy had not reached the full blown craziness that comes with the virus. After it did attack me and lounged at my face I did get up and walk away and the cat proceeded to follow me towards the house. If I knew this cat had rabies of any kind I would not have even gone near it let alone tried to pet it. But I have learned my lesson in this situation and am going to stay away from any animals I do not know. These shots suck and are not fun at all. I have had a total of 8 so far and by the time its over i will have had a total of 12. 12 too many! I however want to thank the animal control for capturing and notifying all those involved. I could have ended up worst had I not been informed and began my treatments. I also want to thank the Health dept they have been with me thru this whole thing and on top of everything. Again I continue to pray from those also attacked I know a few people were worst off than my situation.
I have been told (correct me if I am wrong) that after wildlife has contracted rabies they don’t live beyond two weeks. This being said is this cat rabid or is it a wild feral cat trying to survive.
Man that is ONE scary looking cat picture at the top. I would not wanna mess with that!
A rabies “exposure” is any contact with an animal that COULD POSSIBLY have rabies. If the cat is not in custody, it hasn’t been tested. Brain material is required for testing. In the absence of a test returned as negative, it is always best to assume that the animal had rabies and act accordingly. In other words, if they don’t have the cat, they don’t have a test, therefore, anyone exposed faces the decision to either undergo post exposure vaccinations (which must be done immediately, are expensive and not covered by most health insurance companies, and are painful) or to not undergo the vaccinations and take a chance that the cat did not have rabies. Rabies is 100% fatal and by the time symptoms occur, it’s too late to undergo vaccinations. The fact that we have rabies in the North Escambia, FL and Escambia, AL is not a new idea. Several animals are captured and tested every year and test positive. We ALWAYS have rabies in the area. The barrier is vaccination of your personal pets and do not handle wildlife……..unfortunately, feral cats fall into the wildlife category for this situation.
REGARDING:
“The McDavid area to most people includes Barth, Bogia, McDavid, and Walnut Hill and the same goes for Molino which would include the Perdido River area, Barrineau Park, etc. So quit being so childish in acting like you dont know what areas are included.”
Whereas in my mind it would be bounded by Escambia River, Pine Barren Creek, Canoe Creek, Pine Barren Road, Cox Road. Note we have different ideas even if mine are wrong. That is why some wanted more specificity. Not me, I figure if the Lord wants me, he knows where I live.
“And for you that are putting down the ECHD they are correct for not telling the location because of the HIPAA Act that has been put into action. The HIPAA Act is for the protection of the patient’s personal information and their medical information. So if you want to argue the fact then take it up with the gov’t and quit lashing out at the ECHD.”
Here again, the complaint wasn’t about which part of the GOVERNMENT was to blame or to be credited. The point was that the law required the withholding of potentially lifesaving information. I doubt rabid animals travel many miles before dying. Thus, knowing if you were within a mile or two of the attack would warn most in immediate danger.
If you were attacked by a dangerous animal, those around you might be more cautious around the animals IF they knew. Others might be tempted to kill healthy animals if they didn’t know where the danger lay.
Rightly or wrongly it looks like the HIPAA Act places embarassment or privacy above human life.
I had the impression that was the complaint and people ARE allowed to complain, just as you did.
David for a perfect world
onyr, you say yes and no they have it ? It is on back order till who knows when. So apprantly the ECHD is not prepared for a Rabies alert that has been in effect since the end of August! I say this because i to came in contact with a rabid animal. The ECHD & the CDC told me i may need the vaccine and that i had 1 (one) chance to make the right decision on getting it . When i went to the ER that the ECHD reccommended i was told they did not have it and didn’t think i needed it, but they would call the CDC in Atlanta and discuss it with them and call me back , That was the first of October and i still have not heard from them. In the middle of October i met with the ECHD and discussed this with them, they said they would look into it. Yesterday i talked with the ECHD and asked them if they talked to the ER about it, they told me they have washed their hands of it!!! When it comes to my animals they told me i could put them in home quarintine as long as i met their guidlines. I asked for the guidlines and it was 28 days before they could produce them in writing!! Its not that i hate they ECHD but dont ya think they could do a little better!! I really hope your situation is better than mine.
I was also one of the ones Attacked by this cat Friday afternoon. I believe according to the health dept I was the first person in contact with this cat. i have a degree in animal science and know what rabies looks like. i did not get the feelign this cat had it until I was told late tuesday night about the cat being tested for positvive rabies. I immediatley went to the jay hospital ER and am under going Rabies Vaccines at this time. But in the defense of the others attacked, I can vouch this cat did not look Rabid and was acting like a starving adolesent cat that had been abused. It meowed and followed me all over the property and I kept trying to pet it for over 2 hours. I even fed the cat or attempted to. I stopped my contact with it after it grabbed my hnad and scratched it up pretty bad.
I proceeded to leave the area where the cat was located and as I was standing up it lounged at my face. That’s when I realized this cat was not going to be friendly. So I went inside washed my hand cleaned it up and thought nothign more until I got a call tuesday night about the cat being tested positive. At that point I realized the way the cat was acting was due to the Rabies and it made sence. So advise for anyone else out there no matter how nice the animal seems if it looks like it is starving or foaming at the mouth call animal control. I personally will not be going up to anymore stray’s after this inncodent. I continue to pray for those other’s attacked by this cat and just know I am also in the same boat your in so your not alone.
For all of you who want to know the location of the rabid animals read the article again. It clearly says that the entire north end of the county is being effected by these animals. The McDavid area to most people includes Barth, Bogia, McDavid, and Walnut Hill and the same goes for Molino which would include the Perdido River area, Barrineau Park, etc. So quit being so childish in acting like you dont know what areas are included. And for you that are putting down the ECHD they are correct for not telling the location because of the HIPAA Act that has been put into action. The HIPAA Act is for the protection of the patient’s personal information and their medical information. So if you want to argue the fact then take it up with the gov’t and quit lashing out at the ECHD.
To answer your question about the vaccine, yes and no they have it. They have the vaccine but not a lot of it and the medicine is on backorder until who knows when.
Just to let you know not only am I protecting the ECHD but Im also protecting the people involved in the attacks because I was one of the people attacked this past Friday night. I also know the woman who was bitten because it happened about 30 mins after I was attacked and it was the same animal the attacked me that got her.
I just think that the cat is the above graphic looks completely psycho. Creepy…
Not any of these comments had anything to do with the fact that rabid animals have been reported!!! Thank you Escambia County Health Dept., thank you William of North Escambia.com. Without you we would none of the information we need!! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who among us still thinks the government should dictate all health care?
‘Asinine’ is putting it nicely. Just saying ‘plain stupid’ is the words you should use.
This Law or rule is no protection for the community this took place in nor in any community in the area. How are we to know to be vigilant of our own pets by not knowing where this took place should our pet be attacked by this animal and we attempt to pet it and get scrached or bitten and not know that it was bitten by a Rabid animal. ECHD wake up! I am sure the community wants to know.
Comment to whitepunktonodope…
The Escambia County Health Department WILL contact you if your child has been exposed to Whooping cough. I was contacted last school year b/c my child sat close to an infected student. I made an appointment with the doctor, but since my child had no symptoms, there wasn’t anything he could do. =)
I am not an animal hater but when animals cross the line quit being so nice and don’t waste tax payers money. JUST HANDLE IT
The health privacy laws are a prime example of well-intentioned lawmakers creating a law that ends up being INTERPRETED to the detriment of the community at large. There is absolutely NO GOOD REASON why the ECHD “won’t confirm the location of the incident, citing concerns that identifying the community would violate health privacy laws.”
There’s a word for that: ASININE.
There was an outbreak of whooping cough at certain schools in my county. First, the school district would not identify which schools, citing the same ridiculous law. Then, when the word leaked into the paper that one of them was my elementary age child’s s school, the school would not tell me if my son was in a classroom with one of the infected children. ASININE! I call that NO SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WHATSOEVER.
I wonder if they have gotten the vaccine for the humans in town yet. On October 2nd ( to the best of my knowledge ) it was not available. I hope they have it for these people.