Orange County Animal Services said
a raccoon tested positive for rabies.
Officials said two dogs were
having an altercation with a raccoon on Saturday, May 23, near East Franklin
Street and Glendale Drive in Chapel Hill. According to OCAS, animal control
officials responded and retrieved the raccoon for rabies testing.
OCAS reminds residents that it is
important to keep a safe distance when spotting active wildlife during the day
and night, and it is essential for community health.
“While wild animals are a common
sight, rabies remains a serious viral infection that requires immediate medical
attention. Because the virus is fatal without prompt care, understanding
exposure risks and taking proactive preventive measures is critical to keeping
families and neighborhoods safe,” OCAS officials said in part in a media
release.
Earlier this month, two people were
bitten by a fox in Chapel Hill. It is unclear if that fox had rabies or not.
WRAL News also reported two other incidents
with rabid animals just last month. On April 7, a cat that tested positive for rabies bit a
person on Holiday Park Road in Hillsborough. A dog was also bitten by a raccoon
with rabies on April 4 near Dixie Lane in Chapel Hill.
Officials urge all pet owners to make
sure their pets stay up to date on their current rabies vaccinations. Owners
can reach out to their veterinarians or the Orange County Animal Services for
more information on vaccine guidance.
What to know about rabies
Rabies is a fatal, viral infection that is transmitted to animals and people. Animal Control urged people to be cautious while interacting with wildlife or unfamiliar animals when they’re outside. An animal may have rabies if it shows the following symptoms:
Aggressive or unusually friendly behavior.Difficulty walking, staggering.Foaming at the mouth.Excessive drooling.Disorientation or paralysis.
Rabies spreads to people and animals through saliva, usually through bites, scratches or direct contact with mucosa from the eyes, mouth or open wounds.
All mammals are capable of being infected with and transmitting rabies. Rabies is commonly found in raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. Bats are a host species for the virus around North Carolina and other areas, and most cases of rabies in humans have been traced to the animal.
While wild animals may be active during daylight hours for a variety of reasons, simply seeing one during the day does not mean the animal is sick or infected with rabies. However, the Orange County Animal Services said people should keep their distance and avoid approaching wild animals.
If a rabies suspect animal is alive, do not attempt to capture the animal. Keep visual contact with the animal until an Animal Control officer arrives.
How possible rabies exposure is usually handled
In people, a disease expert from the county health department evaluates the risk of rabies exposure to humans. A decision about post-exposure prophylaxis that protects people from rabies is then based on an assessment of all factors involved in the situation.
When it comes to pets, if there is a “reasonable suspicion of exposure,” a dog, cat or ferret with a valid rabies vaccination history must receive a booster shot within 96 hours (4 days). By law in North Carolina, dogs, cats and ferrets older than four months must have a current and valid rabies vaccination at all times.
If an unvaccinated dog or cat is believed to have a resonable suspicious of exposure, it must either be euthanized or quarantined for up to four months or six months for a ferret.
For more information on rabies in North Carolina, the county recommends visiting the North Carolina Health and Human Services website.