HELENA — The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) reports a cow in Powder River County has tested positive for rabies.
The DOL says the cow was tested after showing neurological symptoms consistent with rabies.
Rabies is a fatal viral disease transmitted through an infected animal’s saliva.
The animal is the first confirmed case of rabies in Montana in 2024 and is the first case not in a bat in Powder River County since 2022.
![Powder River County Map](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b3cbe88/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe1%2Fe6%2Fc12694de4a62a8352f790d1c2b02%2Fpowder-river-county.png)
Officials say Montana sees between 12 and 24 cases of the disease a year, mostly in wild animals.
Vaccination of domestic animals is the best way to minimize human exposure.
State officials have issued a 60-day quarantine for non-vaccinated or not currently vaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets in Powder River County.
Three people were exposed to the cow during testing, according to the DOL.