Woman in Quebec Bitten by Rabid Cat; Three Residents Receive Rabies Shots
A stray cat in Quebec's Montérégie region attacked a resident and an ambulance driver, later testing positive for rabies, prompting post-exposure treatment for three people.
On July 16, Mary Elizabeth Doyle was attacked by a stray cat that jumped onto her leg while she was in her laneway in Godmanchester, Quebec, inflicting bites and scratches. When emergency responders arrived, the cat bit an ambulance driver before it could be secured. Hospital staff cleaned and sutured Doyle's injuries and administered post-exposure prophylaxis.
The animal later tested positive for rabies, the first instance of raccoon-origin rabies identified in a stray cat in the province. The regional health authority reported that three individuals in the Montérégie area received preventive treatment. Officials emphasized thorough wound washing and immediate contact with Info-Santé for anyone bitten, scratched, or exposed to saliva from suspect animals. Experts warned that rabies, while historically linked to bats and dogs, can spread among various mammals, underscoring the need for vigilance and pet vaccinations.
Why it matters
Rabies can be fatal, and this case shows the disease is spreading to new animal hosts, prompting public health alerts.
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