State health officials say a cat found in Liberty tested positive for rabies, and two people exposed to it have been referred to health care providers.
Based on a release from S.C. Dept. of Public Health.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed that a cat found near Old Greenville and Liberty highways in Liberty has tested positive for rabies, according to the department.
Two people were exposed and have been referred to their health care providers, DPH said.
The cat was submitted to DPH’s laboratory for testing on Aug. 10, 2026, and was confirmed to have rabies on Aug. 11, 2026, the department said.
DPH asked anyone who believes they, someone they know, or their pets came in contact with the cat, or another animal that potentially has rabies, to call its Upstate Greenville-Spartanburg office at (864) 372-3270 during normal business hours, or the after-hours line at (888) 847-0902, option 2.
“To reduce the risk of getting rabies, always give wild and stray animals plenty of space,” said Terri McCollister, DPH’s Rabies Program manager. “If you see an animal in need, avoid touching it and contact someone trained in handling animals, such as your local animal control officer, wildlife control operator, or wildlife rehabilitator.”
DPH defines an exposure as direct contact, such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth, with saliva or brain or nervous system tissue from an infected animal. The department said unvaccinated stray and feral cats serve as a significant source of rabies exposure.
DPH said residents whose pets have received unexplained injuries or have been seen interacting with feral cats in recent weeks should contact their veterinarian’s office, and it urged pet owners to keep rabies vaccinations current.
This is the seventh animal in Anderson County to test positive for rabies in 2026, according to DPH. There have been 69 rabid animal cases statewide this year. South Carolina has averaged approximately 136 positive cases a year since 2002, and 11 of the state’s 101 confirmed cases in 2025 were in Anderson County, the department said.
Contact information for local public health offices is available at dph.sc.gov/RabiesContacts, DPH said.
