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The Westchester County Health Department has issued a rabies alert to residents after it confirmed a rabid cat was found near FDR State Park on Crompond Road in Yorktown Heights.
Officials say the cat was a stray,domestic short hair, that was solid black in color and had been spotted near the main entrance of the park on occasion. The feline was observed acting aggressively near the main entrance on the morning of June 7 and was captured and submitted for rabies testing. Test results confirmed today that the cat was rabid.
Anyone who may have come in contact with the cat before June 7 is urged to contact the Westchester County Department of Health immediately at (914) 813-5000 to assess the need for rabies treatment. Acting Westchester County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Cheryl Archbald says "Anyone bitten by a rabid animal, or having contact with its saliva, may need to receive immediate rabies vaccination." Rabies left untreated is fatal. Antibiotics are typically administerered with good results to those exposed to rabies, provided the person exposed is not symptomatic.
Keeping your pets' rabies vaccinations up to date is important for protection against rabies. Unusual behavior, officials say, may be the first sign of rabies in an animal. The animal can appear particularly aggressive or unusually passive.
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