A second calf, housed in a pasture adjacent to Gray's Ice Cream in Tiverton, has died, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Department of Health.
The second calf has tested negative for the rabies disease, reports EastBayRI.com. The exact cause of death is unknown at this time.
This calf is the second to die in recent weeks in Tiverton.
Despite the tests results on this second calf, the Department of Health is urging anyone who may have had contact with the first calf to contact health officials.
On July 15, a Massachusetts resident was bitten by a calf that was in a small pasture adjacent to the ice cream shop at 16 East Road in Tiverton.
Massachusetts Public Health authorities were notified of the bite and the incident was then reported to DEM.
DEM in turn notified the Tiverton Animal Control Officer, who issued an order of quarantine for the animal since all bites from mammals are considered potential rabies exposures. The three-month-old black-and-white steer, known as Oreo, was then placed into quarantine by construction of a barrier that prevented any contact with the public.
The animal was found dead on July 21 while still under the 10-day quarantine period.
Out of an abundance of caution, public health officials are considering that this animal may have died from rabies and are viewing anyone that had contact with the animal’s saliva from July 5 through July 21 as potentially at risk for being exposed to rabies, and are recommending that they be evaluated for post-exposure vaccination by public health authorities.
Rhode Island residents who had contact with this calf between July 5 and July 21 should contact the Rhode Island Department of Health at 222-2577.
Massachusetts residents that had contact with the animal are asked to call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800.
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