The Hill County Sheriff’s Office notified the public of a confirmed rabies case in the Covington area last week.
According to Hill County Sheriff Hunter Barnes, his office received a report Thursday, February 5 regarding an individual being bitten by a stray cat on private property in the 1600 block of Farm Road 67.
The sheriff said that the individual sought medical attention at an area hospital and was later released.
The involved animal, a stray female calico cat, was captured by the individual and sent to the Texas Department of State Health Services, where it tested positive for rabies.
The sheriff said that the area in question is not highly inhabited, but anyone in this area who believes they may have been exposed to the cat is encouraged to see their physician if they feel they have been directly exposed to the animal.
The sheriff’s office also encouraged area residents to closely monitor their pets and livestock for any changes in health or behavior that may be indicative of rabies exposure.
The sheriff’s office would like to remind everyone to obtain rabies vaccinations for their animals on a regular basis, as directed by their veterinarian and by state law.
If additional exposed or infected individuals or animals are located, the sheriff asked the public to report the issue to the sheriff’s office at 254-582-5313 and the Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Program at 254-778-6744.
The Lakelander 