TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A stray dog in Miaoli County’s Tongxiao Township was euthanized after it was found to have bitten a dead ferret badger that later tested positive for rabies, according to the Miaoli County Agriculture Department.

The department said dogs that bite or come into contact with ferret badgers carry a high risk of rabies infection and must be euthanized under Taiwan’s disease prevention regulations. Officials said they are strengthening rabies vaccination programs for dogs in the affected and neighboring townships, per CNA.

The county government said an animal control team quickly captured the dog after receiving a report on Nov. 9. Investigators found the animal was microchipped and regularly fed by a local woman who cared for several stray dogs and cats. 

After discussions with the woman, the dog was euthanized due to its exposure to the infected carcass and then sent to the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Research Institute for testing.

Four other stray dogs and cats present at the scene had already been vaccinated for rabies, officials said. The county will increase efforts to capture and vaccinate stray animals in the area.

Since March 2023, Miaoli has recorded 16 cases of rabies in ferret badgers. Cases include four in Zhuolan Township, four in Dahu Township, three in Taian Township, one in Nanzhuang Township, two in Sanyi Township, one in Gongguan Township, and the first confirmed case in Tongxiao Township. 

Authorities said the infections have spread from mountainous regions to coastal areas for the first time, though rabies cases remain limited to ferret badgers.