A cat that attacked two people near the 4300 block of Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross, Georgia, has tested positive for rabies, Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement and GNR Public Health confirmed Friday, Sept. 25, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. The attack happened the day before, on Thursday, Sept. 24.
Officials have not released the names or conditions of the two people. They also have not said whether the cat had an owner, where it came from, or whether other people or pets had contact with it.
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, but it can be prevented with prompt treatment after a bite or scratch. That is why anyone who may have had contact with the cat is urged to seek care now.
What Officials Are Asking Residents to Do
The county advised residents to "avoid animals that are acting oddly and to get their pets vaccinated for rabies," Atlanta News First reported. Anyone scratched or bitten by a stray or possibly rabid animal should go to a hospital right away and then call GNR Public Health.
Norcross has seen a similar case before. In May 2017, Gwinnett County reported that three people in Norcross were attacked by a rabid cat in the 500 block of Sunset Drive. Pets were also attacked in that incident.
How Rabies Treatment Works
Rabies spreads mainly through bites and scratches that expose a person to an infected animal's saliva. The virus travels along nerves to the brain, a process that can take weeks or months. Once symptoms appear, there is no reliable cure.
That delay creates a window for treatment called post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP. For people who have never been vaccinated against rabies, it starts with thorough wound washing, followed by human rabies immune globulin injected into and around the wound and four doses of rabies vaccine over two weeks. People who were vaccinated before, such as some veterinarians or travelers, need only two vaccine doses and no immune globulin. When given promptly and correctly, PEP is highly effective.
About 100,000 people in the U.S. receive PEP each year, according to the CDC. In a September health alert to clinicians, the agency reported that, through Sept. 2, rabies vaccine use was up 33% and immune globulin use was up 76% compared with the same period in 2025. It listed common errors, including injecting the vaccine into the buttock, failing to inject immune globulin into and around every wound, and misclassifying a patient's vaccination history.
The CDC said there is currently no shortage of human rabies vaccine or immune globulin in the U.S. It also noted that a typical course costs $11,000 to $14,000 per person. Uninsured residents can ask the hospital and health department about financial assistance, since cost should not delay care after a real exposure.
Protecting Pets and Families
In the U.S., cats are the most frequently reported rabid domestic animal, with about 200 to 300 cases reported each year. Outdoor pets can fight with raccoons, foxes, bats, or infected strays and bring the risk home.
Georgia law requires dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies. Owners should make sure their pets' shots are current, especially for cats that go outside. Under CDC guidance for veterinarians, an unvaccinated dog or cat exposed to a rabid animal needs a strict four-month quarantine if it is not euthanized, and it must be vaccinated right away.
Children should be taught not to touch or feed stray cats, even friendly ones. A rabid animal may act unusually aggressive or unusually tame, stagger, or drool heavily. Residents should report any animal that suddenly changes behavior.
Not every pet bite requires rabies shots. A healthy dog, cat, or ferret that bites someone can usually be confined and observed for 10 days, and public health officials can help decide whether treatment is needed.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services program plans to distribute more than 500,000 oral rabies vaccine baits for wildlife across 15 North Georgia counties beginning in October, FOX 5 reported. Gwinnett County is not among them.
Who to Call After a Bite or Scratch
Anyone bitten or scratched by an animal should wash the wound with soap and water for several minutes and get medical care the same day. Do not wait for symptoms, since treatment works only if it starts before they appear.
Early rabies symptoms can include fever, headache, weakness, and discomfort or tingling at the bite site. These signs need emergency evaluation, and the person should mention any animal contact.
Residents with questions about a possible exposure can call GNR Public Health at 770-339-4260 and ask for the on-call epidemiologist. Bites and animals acting strangely can be reported to the Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Bite Office at 770-339-3200, ext. 5576.
MedicalDaily previously reported on the CDC's warning about rabies treatment errors.
Key Questions Answered
What happened in Norcross? A cat attacked two people near the 4300 block of Jimmy Carter Boulevard on Sept. 24. Officials confirmed on Sept. 25 that it tested positive for rabies.
Are the two people in danger? Officials have not released their conditions. Rabies can be prevented if treatment starts before symptoms appear.
What does rabies treatment involve? For people never vaccinated against rabies, it involves wound washing, a shot of rabies immune globulin into and around the wound, and four vaccine doses over two weeks.
Is there a shortage of rabies shots? No. The CDC says there is currently no shortage, although use has risen sharply this year.
How can I protect my pets? Keep dogs and cats up to date on rabies vaccines and limit their contact with strays and wildlife.
Who should I call? GNR Public Health at 770-339-4260 or the Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Bite Office at 770-339-3200, ext. 5576.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
