Lone Rabies Case Confirmed In Oktibbeha County

PRESS RELEASE

JACKSON, Miss.Today the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) confirms the first rabies case in a land animal in Mississippi since 1961. The case was in a feral cat found on the campus of Mississippi State University (MSU) in Starkville.

Rabies is a viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal.

Health officials urge anyone who may have been bitten or scratched by a feral cat near the Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park on the campus of MSU within the past 10 days to immediately contact their primary healthcare provider or the MSDH Office of Epidemiology at 601-576-7725.

A necroscopy confirmed that the cat tested positive for a strain of rabies carried by a _____. Rabies is commonly found in bats in Mississippi and has been found in feral and wild animals in bordering states in previous years.

Mississippians can help protect themselves against rabies by taking the following precautions:

  • Have your domestic dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies at three months of age, one year later, and every three years thereafter.
  • Do not handle or touch feral animals, animals you do not know, or wild animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes and coyotes.


The MSDH continues to work with local partners, including MSU, to identify those who may have had contact with the infected cat, assess their risk of exposure, and provide recommendations for treatment.

For more information on rabies, visit the MSDH website at HealthyMS.com/rabies.

Categories: Local News

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