title: Human exposure to rabid free-ranging cats: a continuing public health concern in Pennsylvania.
abstract: Rabid free-ranging cats have been a public health concern in Pennsylvania since raccoon variant rabies first was recognized in the state in the early 1980s. Over the last decade, between 1.5 and 2.5% of cats submitted to Pennsylvania's state laboratories for rabies testing have been positive. In this report, we describe the extent of rabies in free-ranging cats in Pennsylvania. We also present two examples of human exposure to rabid free-ranging cats that occurred in Pennsylvania during 2010-2011 and the public health actions taken to address rabies exposure in the humans and animals. We then describe the concerns surrounding the unvaccinated and free-ranging cat population in Pennsylvania and possible options in managing this public and animal health problem.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Office of Science and Public Health Practice, Atlanta, GA, USA; Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, Harrisburg, PA, USA.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Campagnolo
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Rankin
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Deasy
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Dato
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ostroff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011821:Raccoons; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Pennsylvania; Rabies; encephalomyelitis; free-ranging cats; post-exposure prophylaxis; raccoon rabies; raccoon variant; surveillance; terrestrial rabies; vaccination; veterinary public health; zoonoses