In Minsk, more than ten employees of the veterinary clinic were hospitalized after contact with a cat with rabies

In Minsk, more than ten employees of the veterinary clinic “Doctor Vet” were in a hospital bed after helping an ordinary, at first glance, cat. About the emergency, which could end in tragedy, the management of the clinic reported in social networks.

The animal came in a serious condition: with paralysis of the hind legs, refusal to eat and oppression. A week earlier, the cat had a low back pain. It turned out that the owners did not vaccinate the pet, explaining that he never left the apartment. According to the law of Belarus, vaccination against rabies is mandatory, and doctors have every right to refuse to examine such an animal, but the clinic "Doctor Vet" went forward.

The examination began, but the diagnosis was not completed – the cat suddenly died. After the death, the owners themselves passed tests and received a positive test for rabies. The sanitary-epidemic station explained that when collecting anamnesis, the owners concealed the fact of contact of the animal with the bat.

“Over 10 colleagues – doctors and assistants – have been put in mortal danger because of the withholding of information. They are hospitalized and undergoing emergency vaccination, the company said.

Experts reminded that rabies is incurable, is not diagnosed during life, and when symptoms appear, death occurs in 100% of cases.

The scale of the problem in the country remains significant. According to the head of the department of especially dangerous infections of the Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health Anastasia Leshkevich, only in the first six months of 2026, more than 12.9 thousand people applied for anti-rabies care, 302 of them after contact with rabid animals. About 20,000 Belarusians undergo treatment every year. If a person is suspected of rabies, a course of six injections is prescribed, and it is extremely important to seek help as quickly as possible to prevent serious consequences.

Photo: Pixabay / used for illustration