Cat euthanized after testing positive for rabies; 6 people exposed

A Woodruff family’s cat was euthanized last week after testing positive for rabies and potentially exposing half a dozen people to the disease.

The exposures occurred on Sept. 13 and 13, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. The cat’s rabies vaccination wasn’t current, and there was a wound of “unknown origin” that was not immediately treated, according to a statement from DHEC.

“Five family members and one other individual were bitten or otherwise potentially exposed,” according to DHEC’s statement.

The six people were referred to their health care providers for consultation. The cat was euthanized on Wednesday.

In 2014, South Carolina saw 139 confirmed cases of animal rabies.

This year alone, there have been 97 confirmed cases statewide, and the cat in Woodruff is the fourth confirmed case in Spartanburg County this year, according to DHEC’s statement.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Cat euthanized after testing positive for rabies; 6 people exposed."