切萨皮克一只流浪猫确诊狂犬病 一男子喂猫时面部和手部受伤 州卫生部发布提醒
弗吉尼亚州卫生部10月20日通报，切萨皮克市一只流浪猫被确诊感染狂犬病，一名男子已因此受伤。10月14日，该男子在切萨皮克 Knells Ridge Blvd 40号的 Cypress Landing 公寓后面试图喂一只野猫时，面部和手部被抓咬受伤；检测证实这只猫狂犬病呈阳性，受伤男子目前正接受治疗。
州卫生部指出，今年该州东部地区的狂犬病阳性病例有所增加，浣熊、臭鼬和狐狸等野生动物是常见宿主，也会把病毒传给未接种疫苗的流浪或家养动物。环境卫生经理德里克·亨特（DerekHunt）表示，居民喂食流浪动物出于好意，但接触看似健康的动物也可能带来健康风险，直接接触应交给专业动物服务机构处理。
卫生部提醒：不要触碰或捕捉流浪动物，发现病弱动物可拨打切萨皮克非紧急电话757-382-6161报告；州法规定四个月以上的犬猫必须接种狂犬病疫苗；暴露后及时治疗可百分之百预防发病，而狂犬病一旦发病则百分之百致命。
Stray Cat Tests Positive for Rabies in Chesapeake; Man Scratched and Bitten While Feeding It
The Virginia Department of Health reported on October 20 that a stray cat in Chesapeake has tested positive for rabies after injuring a man. On October 14, the man was scratched and bitten on the face and hands while trying to feed a feral cat behind the Cypress Landing Apartments at 40 Knells Ridge Blvd; the cat tested positive, and the man is receiving treatment.
Health officials say rabies cases in Virginia's eastern region have risen this year; raccoons, skunks and foxes are common carriers and can pass the virus to unvaccinated stray or pet animals. Environmental health manager Derek Hunt said residents who feed stray animals mean well, but direct contact should be left to professional animal services.
The health department advises: do not touch or try to catch stray animals; report sick or injured animals to Chesapeake's non-emergency line at 757-382-6161; state law requires dogs and cats over four months old to be vaccinated against rabies; treatment after exposure is fully effective at preventing the disease, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：流浪猫（弗吉尼亚州实拍）（图片：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 3.0）/ A feral cat photographed in Virginia (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0)
GSM Global · 本篇英文版 English edition of this story
