(Photo Source: foxnews.com)

Disney fans warned to watch out for rabies outbreak

Feral cats roaming Epcot Center at Disney World have reportedly prompted the Florida Department of Health to issue a rabies warning to visitors. The rabies alert was issued after two Disney World employees were scratched by a feral cat in the parking lot of the park. The cat later tested positive for rabies.

The employees were treated and deemed rabies-free. Still, the Department of Health warned visitors not to have a “false sense of security” at Disney World, which is known for its fun-filled atmosphere. The statement told all people in the area to avoid contact with “feral cats, stray dogs and all wildlife particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes.”

Humans can contract rabies after getting bitten or scratched by an infected animal. If treated immediately, rabies is usually not fatal. However, in rare cases, the virus can kill humans if it is not detected or treated early.

The rabies alert will remain in effect for sixty days and includes a two-mile radius around Epcot Center, where the feral cat was captured. That two-mile radius includes several Disney properties and parks, as well as other areas of Orlando, Florida, especially near the intersection of Epcot Drive and Interstate 4.