2 Woodbridge Residents Bitten By Cat With Rabies; Township On Alert

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Be extremely cautious with stray cats and animals in your yards, Woodbridge residents:

A feral cat found last Friday, Oct. 7 in the vicinity of Edward Street in Iselin has tested positive for the rabies virus, announced the Woodbridge Department of Health & Human Services.

Additionally, two Edward Street residents have also been bitten/scratched by the cat, said Philip Bujalski, Woodbridge's Health & Human Services director.

Those residents have been told to immediately seek medical help and get the rabies vaccine and rabies immune serum, as rabies is nearly always a fatal virus if not treated immediately.

Rabies killed a 6-year-old boy in Florida in 2018 after he was scratched by a bat and his parents did not get him the rabies shots in time.

A resident called Woodbridge Animal Control Friday to report a feral calico-colored cat that appeared sick and was acting in an abnormal manner during daylight hours in the vicinity of Edward Street.

An Animal Control officer captured the feral cat. It was euthanized by a veterinarian and its carcass was transported to the New Jersey Department of Health forensic laboratory in Trenton for a standard rabies evaluation.

The state informed Woodbridge Wednesday that the feral cat tested positive for rabies. Additionally, the state Dept. of Health veterinarian instructed Woodbridge Animal Control to locate and capture any feral cats from the Edward Street colony, as the colony has most likely been exposed to the rabies virus.

"If the Animal Control officers are successful in locating any of the feral cats, they will work to humanely capture and, in conjunction with our veterinarian, will make a determination regarding the fate of the animal(s)," said a Woodbridge spokesman.

Residents in/near the Edward Street neighborhood in Iselin and who may have observed or come into close contact with any of the neighborhood feral cats should contact the Health Department at 732-855-0600, ext. 5007.

Rabies can affect any warm-blooded animal (raccoon, fox, skunk, groundhog, dogs or cats). DO NOT come in close contact with stray or wild animals and DO NOT let children play with or feed feral cats and/or wildlife. Make sure trash, garbage and recycling containers are closed tightly.

Be cautions when you observe feral cats and/or wildlife acting erratically, as an animal affected with rabies will deviate from normal behavior. If you see a wild animal acting in an erratic or unusual manner, contact the Health Department/Animal Control at: 732-855-0600, Ext 5007.

Make sure pets are current with their rabies vaccine. If they are not current, take them to your veterinarian immediately for a rabies vaccine.

If you are bitten by an animal, especially one that is acting erratic or unusual, contain the animal if you can do so safely or get a good description of the animal for later identification, cleanse the wound, seek medical attention and contact the Health Department at 732-855-0600, Ext 5007.