Rabid stray cat confirmed near Breezie Hill, one person exposed

Residents near Breezie Hill Road and Googe Road in Allendale should treat the area as a rabies exposure zone and act quickly if a pet or family member had any contact with a stray cat. South Carolina public health officials said the cat was submitted to the state laboratory on May 22, 2026 and confirmed rabid on May 26, 2026, with one person already exposed and referred to a healthcare provider. Any bite, scratch, saliva contact, or contact with broken skin should be reported immediately, because rabies in humans is preventable only when treatment starts fast.

The case marked the first animal in Allendale County to test positive for rabies in 2026. It also came as South Carolina had recorded 40 confirmed rabid animals statewide so far this year. In 2025, none of the state’s 101 confirmed rabies cases were in Allendale County, making this latest finding a sharp local reminder that the virus remains active even in rural communities where stray animals and outdoor pets can cross paths more easily.

State health officials have spent the past year trying to make that risk easier to track. The South Carolina Department of Public Health launched a public rabies tracking webpage on October 1, 2025, posting positive animal tests by geographic area so residents can see where cases are turning up. Dr. Linda Bell said the goal is to give the public a comprehensive look at rabid animals and encourage people to protect themselves and their pets. In 2024, the department investigated 15,209 possible rabies exposures, sent 1,440 specimens to the public health laboratory, and confirmed 81 animal cases statewide.

DPH says all animal bite reports are treated as possible rabies exposures until proven otherwise. The agency also says stray and feral cats are a significant source of exposure, and that rabies in humans is 100% preventable with prompt medical care. The CDC estimates about 1.4 million Americans are evaluated for possible rabies exposure each year, about 100,000 receive post-exposure prophylaxis, and fewer than 10 die annually because prevention works. For Allendale County families, the lesson is clear: check pet vaccination records, avoid touching stray animals, and call DPH’s Charleston office during normal business hours or the 24-hour after-hours reporting line if contact may have happened. Terri McCollister said residents should give wild and stray animals plenty of space and avoid touching them.