Positive Rabies Test Reported on Raccoon in Hillsborough

Orange County Animal Services announced a positive rabies test for a raccoon in Hillsborough on Wednesday afternoon. OCAS reports the case originated on Tuesday in an altercation involving the raccoon, a person and two dogs outdoors on Shirley Lane, near the intersection of Pleasant Green Road and St Marys Road. Animal services removed the raccoon for testing and discovered rabies.

This is the second reported case of rabies in Orange County this year. The first – also involving a raccoon – was reported in February in Chapel Hill.

OCAS is urging pet owners to be up to date on their pets’ rabies vaccinations. North Carolina law mandates that all dogs, cats and ferrets older than four months have a current and valid rabies vaccination at all times.

The virus is generally transmitted through secondary saliva exposure when handling an animal, so owners are asked to not touch their pets without gloves if the pet has had possible exposure to rabies. A vaccinated dog, cat or ferret which is suspected to have been exposed to rabies must receive a booster shot within four days. Any unvaccinated cat or dog must either be euthanized or quarantined for a period of up to four months. Unvaccinated ferrets can be quarantined for up to six months. OCAS did not provide an update on the condition of the person or the two dogs involved in the incident.

Orange County Animal Services hosts periodic low-cost rabies vaccination clinics for dogs and cats, with the next scheduled for Wednesday, August 14. For more information on clinics and future dates, visit the county government’s website. Additional rabies resources from Orange County can be found here.

Featured image via Jordan Rushton

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