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A bobcat that attacked two people and a dog in Anthem Sunday has been confirmed as rabid, Arizona Game and Fish officials said.
Officials said a man and his dog were attacked by a bobcat when a bystander jumped in to help. The bobcat then attacked the Good Samaritan, who was bit on the hand.
Nathan Gonzalez, a Game and Fish spokesman, said testing on the animal determined it was infected with rabies.
Officials declined to comment on the specific case of the man who was bit; however, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health said any person who is exposed to rabies is granted access to rabies vaccines by the agency.
Gonzalez said a wild animal's behavior often is an indication of rabies' presence.
"Temperament or over-aggression is common with wildlife when an animal has rabies," Gonzalez said. "They tend to be in locations where they have access to food and water and that's in the neighborhoods we live in."