FALLSBURG — The Sullivan County Department of Public Health has confirmed that a stray cat euthanized in the South Fallsburg area tested positive for the rabies virus. 

The rabies virus is common throughout New York State with a vast majority of animals affected are wild. Domesticated animals account for less than 10% of rabies cases.

Rabies can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. The virus is prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.

The county encourages to keep your pets up-to-date on vaccination and indoors when not on a leash. Vaccinated pets serve as a buffer between rabid wildlife and humans. 

Vaccines for dogs, cats and ferrets over three months of age are effective for a one-year period. Revaccinations are effective for up to three years and pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors.

Helpful things to remember to protect yourself and your family from rabies include feeding your pet indoors, boarding up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage, and capping your chimney with screens. The Department of Health also encourages people to “bat proof” their living spaces as bats have small, sharp teeth and in certain circumstances people can be bitten and not know it. 

It is important to encourage children to immediately tell an adult if they are bitten by any animal and to not  touch any animal except their own.

The next regularly scheduled free rabies vaccination clinic for dogs, cats and ferrets, open to anyone in the county and sponsored by the Department of Public Health, will be held on Wednesday, June 14, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Morningside Park in Hurleyville, Town of Fallsburg.

Seek treatment for all animal bites and report contact with wild animals to Sullivan County Department of Public Health at (845)-292-5910. If safe, don’t let an animal escape that has possibly exposed someone to rabies.

For more information please contact the Disease Surveillance and Investigation Department of Sullivan County Public Health at 845-292-5910.

FALLSBURG — The Sullivan County Department of Public Health has confirmed that a stray cat euthanized in the South Fallsburg area tested positive for the rabies virus. 

The rabies virus is common throughout New York State with a vast majority of animals affected are wild. Domesticated animals account for less than 10% of rabies cases.

Rabies can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. The virus is prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.

The county encourages to keep your pets up-to-date on vaccination and indoors when not on a leash. Vaccinated pets serve as a buffer between rabid wildlife and humans. 

Vaccines for dogs, cats and ferrets over three months of age are effective for a one-year period. Revaccinations are effective for up to three years and pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors.

Helpful things to remember to protect yourself and your family from rabies include feeding your pet indoors, boarding up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage, and capping your chimney with screens. The Department of Health also encourages people to “bat proof” their living spaces as bats have small, sharp teeth and in certain circumstances people can be bitten and not know it. 

It is important to encourage children to immediately tell an adult if they are bitten by any animal and to not  touch any animal except their own.

The next regularly scheduled free rabies vaccination clinic for dogs, cats and ferrets, open to anyone in the county and sponsored by the Department of Public Health, will be held on Wednesday, June 14, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Morningside Park in Hurleyville, Town of Fallsburg.

Seek treatment for all animal bites and report contact with wild animals to Sullivan County Department of Public Health at (845)-292-5910. If safe, don’t let an animal escape that has possibly exposed someone to rabies.

For more information please contact the Disease Surveillance and Investigation Department of Sullivan County Public Health at 845-292-5910.