POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Polk County Health Department has confirmed the county’s first case of rabies this year after a stray cat brought into a Lakeland animal clinic tested positive for the deadly virus.
The positive result received today from the State Laboratory in Tampa follows an incident on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic. A vet technician was bitten by the cat, and the woman who transported the animal also sustained two scratches.
Both individuals have been advised to seek immediate medical treatment to prevent the onset of rabies, which is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear.
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“Rabies is a deadly disease, and even one case is one too many,” Polk County Sheriff Judd stated. “We urge everyone to stay alert and avoid contact with stray or wild animals acting strangely. If you see something suspicious, call us, don’t take chances with your health.”
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals and is most commonly spread through a bite or scratch from an infected animal.
Authorities are reminding all residents of the critical need to vaccinate their pets and to exercise extreme caution around wildlife and stray animals.
If you suspect that you or your pet has been exposed to a rabid animal, residents are advised to contact the PCSO Animal Control Section immediately at 863.577.1762.
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