Virginia health officials say 17 people from four states are undergoing rabies treatments after being exposed to a rabid kitten in Delaware.

The Chickahominy Health District said Friday that those exposed include nine Hanover County residents, five people from Maryland, two from Pennsylvania and one from Delaware.

One Hanover County resident found the stray kitten on U.S. 13 in Delaware and took it to a family gathering held July 2 in Bethany Beach, Delaware. The kitten became ill when the resident returned to Virginia and later tested positive for rabies.

Dr. Brooke Rossheim, the health district's acting director, says people should keep their distance from strange animals and wildlife.

Rossheim says there's no definite way to determine whether an animal has rabies just by observing it.