Orange County has received its first positive rabies case of 2021 after Chapel Hill residents caught a bat in their home.
The incident occurred on Saturday, March 20, when the residents discovered a bat flying around in their home. According to a report, they were able to secure the bat without any direct contact. Animal control then arrived and removed the bat for rabies testing.
The positive case of rabies in the bat was confirmed by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. Orange County reported eight positive cases in 2020 and six in 2019.
No people or pets had any known direct contact with the bat. The Orange County Health Department has been in contact with the Chapel Hill residents to evaluate the risk of possible rabies exposure.
When there is “a reasonable suspicion of exposure,” a dog, cat, or ferret with a valid vaccination history must receive a booster rabies vaccination within 96 hours (4 days). By contrast, an unvaccinated cat or dog must either be destroyed or quarantined for a period up to four (4) months (or six (6) months for a ferret).
Bats are a host species of rabies in North Carolina. According to a report from Orange County, the few cases of rabies in humans in the United States in recent years have mostly been traced to bats.
If there is any possibility of exposure from a bat, it is critical that citizens immediately contact their animal control program. If an incident involving a bat – or other rabies vector, such as a raccoon or skunk – should occur outside regular hours of service, an Animal Control Officer should be reached right away through Emergency Communications (9-1-1).
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
Orange County Receives Third Rabies Confirmation of 2018The third case of rabies in Orange County in 2018 has been confirmed by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. Orange County announced in a release that the case involved a raccoon and occurred near UNC’s Finley Golf Course. A Chapel Hill resident heard her dogs barking and went outside to find a […]
Orange County Reports Rabid Raccoon, First Case of 2026Orange County Animal Services said it identified a positive rabies case in a raccoon found near Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Positive Rabies Test Reported on Raccoon in Carrboro, Orange County's 8th in 2024Orange 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 Test Reported on Fox in CarrboroOrange 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 HillsboroughOrange 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 […]
Orange County Reports First Rabies Case of 2024, Citing Raccoon in Chapel HillOrange County has received its first report of a positive case of rabies in 2024: a raccoon near Southern Village in Chapel Hill.
Rabid Skunk Marks Seventh Case in Orange County For 2023Orange County Animal Services reported its second positive rabies case in the span of two weeks on Tuesday, this time from a skunk. A release from the department said the case stems from an incident on Friday, December 15 near Cole Mill Road and Umstead Road — which is close to the Orange County line […]
Orange County: Rabid Raccoon Reported in Chapel HillThe second case of rabies in Orange County this calendar year happened in Chapel Hill on Thursday, according to the county government. A release from Orange County Animal Services on Friday alerted community members to the latest case, where a Chapel Hill resident saw a raccoon “behaving strangely near his home.” The person called Animal […]
Orange County Reports Third Rabies Case of 2021Orange County Animal Services has reported its third rabies case of the year following an incident in Hillsborough. On December 5, a Hillsborough resident discovered a skunk in an outdoor enclosure with his dog. After unsuccessful attempts to scare the skunk away, he killed the skunk and called Animal Control. Animal Control arrived and removed […]
Bat Captured in Chapel Hill Tests Positive for Rabies, Orange County's First Case of 2021Orange County has received its first positive rabies case of 2021 after Chapel Hill residents caught a bat in their home. The incident occurred on Saturday, March 20, when the residents discovered a bat flying around in their home. According to a report, they were able to secure the bat without any direct contact. Animal […]
›
