A stray kitten adopted by a family living in southeast Cherokee County has tested positive for rabies.

The family found the kitten on June 2 near their home on Lake Circle, which is off Highway 92 and Wiley Bridge Road close to the Cobb County line.

Members of the family and a worker at a Cobb County veterinarian clinic were exposed to the kitten prior to rabies testing.

When they found the kitten, it looked sickly, the family members said, so they took it to a nearby animal clinic in Cobb County on June 3. While being treated at the clinic that day, the kitten scratched a veterinarian technical assistant.

Glen Gordy of the Cherokee County Health Department said the kitten was euthanized at the clinic because of its illness. Test results have confirmed the kitten had rabies.

"All people exposed are seeking rabies treatment at a Cobb County hospital, and residents in the Lake Circle area were notified to contact us if they believe they were exposed," Gordy said

To avoid rabies exposure, residents are urged to stay away from unfamiliar animals and to make certain all pets and livestock are current on their rabies vaccinations.

The recommendation for a possible rabid animal bite is to thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water, and then seek immediate medical attention with the following information on hand: The geographic location of the incident; the type of animal that was involved; how the exposure occurred (provoked or unprovoked); the vaccination status of any pets involved; and whether the biting animal can be safely captured and tested for rabies

For more information, call the environmental health department at (770) 479-0444 or see the website at www.cdc.gov.