Mayor Larry Hushour would like to inform Town residents to an issue announced by the Frederick County Health Department
"I want to alert the residents of Mount Airy that two cats in Frederick County have tested positive with the rabies virus in February," he said. "One cat was near Mount Airy on Talbot Run Road. Please be aware of this issue and stay alert for your outdoor pets and avoid contact with animals behaving unusually."
The Frederick County Health Department press release reads as follows:
FREDERICK, MD – On February 22, 2024, the Frederick County Health Department (FCHD) was notified that a cat from the 1400 block of Angelwing Place in Frederick, MD tested positive for the rabies virus. The cat was picked up from an area located near Monarch Ridge Park and Emerald Farm Park and close to Butterfly Ridge Elementary School. Frederick County Animal Control collected the stray cat on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 after receiving reports of its unusual and aggressive behavior. The rabies-positive cat is described as a young adult female with distinct light silvery and cream coloring. A picture of the sedated cat is included.
The FCHD recommends that people who may have had contact with this cat between February 6, 2024, and February 20, 2024, consult their health care provider and notify the FCHD’s Community Health Services Office at 301-600-3342. If any pets had contact with the cat, consult with your veterinarian and notify the FCHD’s Environmental Health Office at 301-600-1717.
This is the second cat to test positive for rabies so far this year in Frederick County. The first positive cat was collected earlier this month from Talbot Run Road in Mount Airy and is not related to this case. Rabies occurrence is common in the area. In 2023, Frederick County had 32 animals test positive for rabies. For more information, visit Health.FrederickCountyMD.Gov/Rabies.
Rabies is a viral disease that mainly infects mammals and is spread through the saliva of the infected animal, usually by a bite. Symptoms of rabies in animals may include fear of water, excessive salivation, failure to eat or drink, limping, unusually friendly or aggressive behavior, or other unusual or atypical behavior. The disease is nearly always fatal to humans once infected if no prompt post-exposure treatment is given.
If you or your pets have contact with a stray or wild animal, report it to Animal Control at 301-600-1544.