The Department of Health (HEALTH) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) advises residents of Cherry Road in Cranston and the surrounding neighborhoods that a stray kitten has tested positive for rabies. HEALTH has received reports that this kitten was one of three kittens born to a stray mother. Anyone who has had contact with any stray cat in that area should contact HEALTH at 222-2577 for medical evaluation.
“Every summer the department sees an increase in calls from the public about potential exposure to rabid animals,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “Although there have been no active cases of human rabies in Rhode Island it is common in many wild animals such as bats, raccoons, foxes and strays so people are at risk. It is important to use common sense when dealing with domestic, stray or wild animals. The fact that we have had no human cases reflects our State’s aggressive approach to evaluating each potentially risky exposure for early treatment and vaccination.”
Avoid getting rabies or having to get the multi-injection treatment series. Protect yourself and your family.
1. Do not touch or pet stray animals or animals that you do not know. If you see a domestic animal (cat, dog) that is acting strangely or you think is a stray, call your local animal control officer or police department if you cannot reach the animal control officer. For wild animals displaying unusual behavior, call DEM at 222-3070. 2. Bat proof your home. Bats are most active during the summer. If there is a bat in your house, try to confine the bat to one room. (Close all doors and windows.) Do not go back into the room until the bat is caught. When there is human contact with a bat, (if a bat is found in the same room as a child, an elderly person or a sleeping adult) call DEM Environmental Police. DEM officers will trap the bat and submit it for testing. In cases where there is no human contact, homeowners should call a pest control company to remove the bat. For information on how to bat proof your home, call a licensed professional. For a list of licensed professionals, visit http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/relok8rs.pdf. 3. Make sure your pets are up to date with all of their shots. If you are not sure about your pet’s vaccination status, call your vet and check. 4. If you think that you or a family member may have been exposed to a rabid animal please call 222 2577, contact your primary care physician or go to an area emergency room.
Rabies is a virus that is transmitted to humans through the saliva of an infected animal. Rabies is treatable, and the treatment is 100 percent effective when started shortly after exposure. If left untreated, rabies is always fatal. The last reported active case of human rabies in Rhode Island was in 1955.