Woman Bitten By Rabid Cat

ELKTON, Md. - A Cecil County woman is undergoing treatment for rabies after authorities said a stray cat bit her. Lowell Melser Reports

The incident happened along Cherry Hill Road in Elkton. Officials said it's the third incident where a person was bitten by a rabid animal in the county this year.

Health officials said the recent attack should serve as a strict reminder for people to have their pets vaccinated.

"We want to try to continue to educate the public to make sure all their pets are vaccinated. That's a big part of preventing rabies in animals and people," said Stephanie Garrity of the Cecil County Health Department.

The victim is undergoing treatment, officials said. She was unavailable to WBAL TV 11 News for comment on Friday, but the woman's neighbor said she's going to keep her cat's inside for fear of another attack.

"It's important because you never know what animal is going to attack your cat that has rabies," said resident Barbara Rider.

According to the Cecil County Health Department, in 2007, 238 animal bites were investigated by the county, including dogs, cats and a variety of wild animals and bats. Of those, 80 were submitted for rabies testing and 10 tested positive.

Health officials said they're not too alarmed by the recent case and weren't sure if the cat was a stray or a pet. They said they're hoping this case will be a wake-up call to pay attention to strange animals.

"I think it's important for the public to understand that if you don't know the animal, don't approach it," Garrity said.

To find out more information about rabies and vaccinations, health officials are urging residents to go to their local health department or veterinarian.

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