China News Service, June 30, according to the European Union quoted the European Union News Agency reported that on June 29 local time, the Venice Institute for Laboratory Animal Prevention, Italy, told the media that the laboratory staff of the institute successfully succeeded from the University of Tuscany. A rabies virus strain was isolated from a brain sample of a domestic pet cat in the district. The pet cat had bitten the owner, causing the owner to be taken to hospital after being sick.
According to reports, the cat was fed by a resident of Arezzo, Tuscany, and the owner died of being bitten by the cat. The woman who was in contact with the cat and the two children of the veterinarian were also bitten, asymptomatic, and are being treated by immunoglobulin therapy. The researchers then extracted a cat brain sample and found that the cat brain contained rabies virus.
Researchers say the rabies virus strain found in pet cat brain samples is different from the traditional rabies virus. The rabies virus was previously found in Caucasian bats, but it has not been confirmed that the virus can infect pets or humans.
Rabies is usually caused by domestic or wild carnivores. The most recent report in Italy was between 2008 and 2011 when the virus was found in Italian red foxes.
As a preventive measure, the Italian Ministry of Health and the Tuscany Health Department are closely monitoring the prevalence of rabies. Alessandro Ginelli, Mayor of Arezzo, has issued an emergency order. The city will restrict the activities of dogs, and the owner must pull when walking the dog. The breeder must notify the government immediately if it finds that the pet is abnormal or bites. (Jingying)