BROOKLYN — The Northeast District Department of Health has been working with the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (NECCOG) Animal Services Program to contact all persons who might have been exposed to a cat that tested positive for rabies on May 30.
According to NECCOG, a young, domestic short-hair gray tiger cat with white markings named Lilac was housed in the middle cage at the main shelter at 125 Putnam Pike in Dayville.
The Northeast District Department of Health is advising anyone who might have come in contact with this cat from May 14 to 29 to call for an assessment of exposure.
Rabies is a viral disease primarily of animals caused by infection of the brain and spinal cord. People can get rabies from the bite of an infected animal. An animal with rabies can also transmit the rabies virus through its saliva, which can come in contact with a person’s mucous membranes (mouth, nose, eyes) or can get in open wounds on the skin.
While rabies can be fatal once clinical signs appear, it can be prevented through timely medical treatment that includes administration of one dose of immune globulin (antibodies) and four doses of vaccine over two weeks.
The NDDH and NECCOG continue to contact staff, volunteers and recorded visitors to NECCOG Animal Services. This advisory is being issued out of an abundance of caution to alert other visitors who might have been exposed to rabies. If you were in contact with the cat at NECCOG between May 14 and 29 and have not yet been contacted by NDDH or NECCOG, please call NDDH at 860-774-7350 ext. 2