State Still Monitoring Rabies Situation Involving Ellington Cow

State agriculture officials are still monitoring a rabies situation in Ellington after a cow had been tested positive with the disease earlier this month.

“It’s an ongoing surveillance,” said George Krivda, spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture. “We’re still in the evaluation period."

Krivda still assured that there is no danger to the public, as the single cow that had been tested positive with rabies last week had been put down and other cows that it had come in contact with have since been quarantined. Krivda said this is vital in containing the potential spread of rabies because it can be transmitted through saliva.

And, since cows are known to touch nose-to-nose, it was important to segregate the ones that may have had contact with the infected animal, Krivda said. So, even though this cow has since been put down, the state still has to continue to monitor the other cows until it's sure there is no further rabies threat, Krivda explained.

The Ellington cow in question was euthanized on Sept. 26 after the owner noticed it exhibited peculiar behaviors. The animal’s brain was then tested at a state laboratory when officials discovered the rabies.

Since it is a rabies case involving a farm animal the state handled the investigation in its entirety, said first Selectman Maurice Blanchette. During his four years in office, Blanchette said he has not heard of a similar case like this before.

“To my knowledge the state told us there’s no particular reason to be concerned,” Blanchette said.