Cat tests positive for rabies

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health on Tuesday reported a cat as the first domestic animal this year to test positive for rabies in Roosevelt County.

The department has previously confirmed positive rabies tests in seven wild animals, six of them skunks, in Curry and Roosevelt counties.

The cat in question developed weakness in its hind legs and bit a person last week. That person received post-exposure medical treatment, according to a DOH news release.

“It’s important pet owners remember that there are wild animals in the area likely infected with rabies, and unvaccinated domestic animals, like this cat, could become infected,” NMDOH Cabinet Secretary Kathy Kunkel said in the release. “Since pet dogs and cats can potentially encounter rabid animals outdoors and then potentially transmit the disease to people, it is very important to make sure all dogs and cats are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.”

Some guidelines from the department include:

• Avoid feeding wild animals, or touching wild animals whether alive or dead.

• If bitten by an animal, immediately wash the exposed site with soap and water for 10-15 minutes, report the bite to animal control and seek medical care.

• To report a sick or dead wild animal, or any wild animal acting abnormally, contact the state game and fish department at 505-476-8000.