Three people were exposed to a barn cat that tested positive for rabies in the Town of Orleans.

The Jefferson County Public Health Service says those three people will go through a post-exposure protocol. The barn cat had never been vaccinated for rabies. There are no known pet exposures.

Rabies is a fatal disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. Any mammal can contract rabies. It’s most often found in bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons. It can take weeks or months for symptoms to appear.  To prevent the spread of rabies, public health officials say to stay away from unknown animals and keep pets up to date on vaccines. The next rabies clinic at the Jefferson County Dog Control is on June 20.