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

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

‹

Orange County Reports Third Rabies Case of 2022

Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) reported its third positive rabies test of 2022.

Orange County Receives 6th Positive Rabies Case for 2019

Orange County Animal Services received its sixth positive rabies test result of the year on Tuesday, according to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. This incident involved a raccoon and occurred in the vicinity of Whitfield Road and North Hill Drive in Chapel Hill. The case originated on Monday when a Chapel Hill resident heard a commotion […]

Orange County Receives 4th Positive Rabies Test This Year

Orange County Animal Services received its fourth positive rabies test result of the year, according to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. The case comes just over a week after the county’s third case of 2019. The incident occurred in Mebane near Lee Street and Mill Creek Road on Thursday, August 8. A […]

14th Rabies Case Confirmed, Set to Double 2013 High

Fourteen cases of rabies have been confirmed this year, and since it is only the beginning of June, that number is set to double last year’s total of twelve cases by the end of 2014.

Fourth Rabies Case Confirmed In Orange County For 2014

If you go back into the 1990s..."

Orange County's First Rabies Case of 2025 Reported in Chapel Hill

The Orange County Animal Services department confirmed its first positive rabies case of the new calendar year this week in Chapel Hill.

Positive Rabies Test Reported on Raccoon in Carrboro, Orange County's 8th in 2024

Orange County Animal Services announced a positive rabies test for a raccoon in Carrboro on Tuesday morning. OCAS reports the case originated on Dec. 23 in an altercation involving the raccoon and a group of dogs outdoors near Lilac Drive. Animal services removed the raccoon for testing and discovered rabies. This is the third reported […]

Positive Rabies Tests from Stray Cats Mark 6th and 7th in Orange County for 2024

Orange County Animal Services received its sixth positive rabies case of the year on Monday, this time stemming from an outdoor cat.

Positive Rabies Test Reported on Fox in Carrboro

Orange County Animal Services has announced a positive rabies test on a fox in Carrboro. According to a release from OCAS, the incident involving the fox and a person occurred in the vicinity of Davie Road and Fidelity Street on September 2. The fox was then removed for rabies testing. This is the third positive […]

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 […]

›