Have you or your pets come into contact with an aggressive black cat along the Rivanna Trail on Nov. 3 or 4? YThe Blue Ridge Health District want you to get in touch — there was a confirmed case of a cat with rabies.
According to the Virginia Department of Health’s press release, a black cat exhibiting aggressive behavior was captured on Nov. 4 along the Rivanna Trail near the Free Bridge, as well as around River Road and Belleview Avenue. The cat was tested for rabies, and the results came back positive on Nov. 12.
Rabies is a nearly always fatal disease in humans and pets once symptoms appear — which can happen in two to three months after exposure, according to the World Health Organization. It’s crucial to treat the possible infection before the symptoms appear to avoid the worst outcome.
The health department is urging anyone who may have had contact with a black cat in the area, especially if you were scratched, bitten or exposed to its saliva, to immediately reach out to the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department so a professional can ask a series of questions to decide if you need medication and a series of vaccine shots to support the immune system.
What to do if you came in contact with a rabid cat
The Blue Ridge Health District has confirmed a case of rabies in a feral cat in Charlottesville. Anyone who has come in contact with a black cat on Nov. 3 or 4 along the Rivanna Trail near the Free Bridge (1400 block of Long Street) or around River Road and Belleview Avenue should contact the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department at 434-972-6219 immediately to assess whether they need to receive treatment.
For more information and tips on how to protect yourself and your pets, see the Virginia Department of Health’s press release.
While we can’t cover every story that’s important to you, we do our best to be responsive to your needs. We use tips from readers to choose which stories to cover, to incorporate information into broader reports or to help us decide how to grow Charlottesville Tomorrow. Here’s where you can tell us what you think we should be covering.
In this First Person Charlottesville podcast episode, former Yogaville resident Brianna Patten speaks up — and helps others do the same.
The hospital cited staffing challenges and declining births in the Farmville area as reasons for the decision.
Mothers described navigating long waits, limited providers and a system stretched thin as youth mental health needs rise.
More local news
