In a dramatic turn of events, health officials are breathing a sigh of relief after a kitten in Chemainus was confirmed to be rabies-free. A public health scare erupted last month when the little feline was initially believed to be infected, prompting urgent warnings and advisories.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's rabies laboratory conducted thorough testing and announced on August 22 that the July initial result was a rare case of a ‘false positive’. This unexpected development has put many minds at ease.

The kitten was discovered in early July wandering near the 8000 block of Chemainus Road. Its positive test for rabies raised alarms, leading Island Health to identify and reach out to individuals who may have come into contact with the animal.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, "In B.C., the only animals that carry rabies virus are bats. There is very rarely spread of rabies to other animals in B.C. The risk of rabies to humans in B.C. is mainly from bats." This highlights the rarity of rabies transmission among domestic pets in the province.

But the incident serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of keeping pets vaccinated against rabies, despite its infrequency in B.C. Since 1924, only two human cases of rabies have been reported in the province, both linked to bat contact.

Interestingly, the last confirmed rabies case in a domestic cat in B.C. was way back in 2007, making this recent scare even more unusual.

Rabies, while preventable, remains a serious disease. Health experts strongly urge anyone who suspects exposure to a potentially rabid animal to seek immediate medical attention.