A recent rabies outbreak in an urban, unmanaged cat colony in Maryland potentially exposed more than 300 persons to rabies. The incident is a stark reminder of the need to manage rabies risks in feral colonies. It should also be a reminder of risks in free-range barnyard cats as well.
More than 90 percent of animal rabies cases occur among wild animals, such as raccoons, foxes, bats and skunks, which are frequent visitors to outbuildings, coops and barns on suburban properties, acreages and farms. Cats are the most frequently reported rabid domestic animal in the United States, with approximately 200 to 300 reports each year.
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