Damaged lab sample is county's 5th rabies 'positive'

A lab submission that was designated as “destroyed” by the zoological lab has led to Kerr County Animal Services following the requirement of the law and recording it as a positive rabies case. It becomes the fifth one for the county in 2025.

“When it comes to rabies, a serious neurological and contagious disease, Texas law requires that we post any suspected animal specimen that is deemed too damaged or insufficient for proper lab testing as a positive case. It is a matter of erring on the side of caution, understandably, for the safety of any humans or other animals that may have had exposure with it,” said Kerr County Animal Services Director Reagan Givens.

In this particular case, KCAS, as the local rabies authority, was notified on Sept. 6 of a person who was bitten by a stray dog out on Cypress Creek Road.

A KCAS officer was dispatched and collected the specimen the following day and sent it to the lab for testing on Sept. 8. The person who was bitten was informed of the proper medical protocol to be followed.

“We received word Wednesday morning that the lab classified the sample as ‘destroyed’, which triggered the legal requisite that we post it as a positive case,” Givens said.

Anyone can encounter a possibly rabid wild animal at any time – whether it is in the very rural areas of the county or on a paved street in the middle of a city neighborhood or shopping district, he cautioned. Do not feed and never attempt to pet or touch an animal that is unfamiliar to you, including cats and dogs, Givens said.

Anyone who sees an animal acting strangely or atypically is asked to make a note of its physical description, exact location and which way it may be heading and call that information in to the KCAS office at 830-257-3100. If it is after hours, the information should be reported to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office at 830-896-1216.