Several people who had direct contact with the kitten are now undergoing post-exposure rabies measures.
LOCKPORT, N.Y. — The Niagara County Department of Health has confirmed a case of rabies in a kitten found in the Town of Cambria.
The kitten, located on Saunders Settlement Road between Diller Road and Fairview Drive, tested positive for rabies on August 21 after displaying aggressive behavior.
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According to health officials, the kitten had been examined by an Erie County veterinarian on Aug. 14 after showing signs of neurological illness, including biting and scratching. It was euthanized the following day and submitted for testing to the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center, Griffin Laboratories.
Results received on Aug. 21 confirmed the rabies infection.
Several people who had direct contact with the kitten, including at its residence and the veterinarian’s office, are now undergoing post-exposure rabies measures.
“This case serves as an important reminder that even seemingly harmless domestic animals can contract rabies from contact with infected wildlife,” the Niagara County Department of Health said in a statement.
Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal in unvaccinated animals and remains a serious public health concern in Niagara County. The virus is commonly carried by wildlife such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, and can be transmitted to people and pets through direct contact, even before symptoms appear.
Health officials are reminding residents to take precautions, including keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccinations, avoiding contact with wild or stray animals, and not leaving pet food or garbage outside where it could attract wildlife.
“Vaccinated pets serve as a crucial buffer between rabid wildlife and humans, significantly reducing your risk of exposure,” the department said.
The Niagara County Department of Health offers free rabies vaccination clinics for pets, with schedules posted on its website. By law, all cats, dogs, and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies beginning at four months of age.
Residents are also urged to keep pets indoors at night, board up potential entry points for wildlife around their homes, and teach children not to touch unfamiliar animals. Anyone whose pet comes into contact with a potentially rabid animal should immediately call a veterinarian.
For more information or to report an animal bite or contact with wild animals, residents can call the Niagara County Department of Health Environmental Division at (716) 439-7444 or visit www.niagaracounty.gov/health
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