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 involving her dog. She went outside and found her dog having an encounter with a raccoon. The resident pulled her dog away from the raccoon quickly and called Animal Control to the scene. The responding officer found the raccoon and removed the animal for rabies testing. 

The dog had a current vaccination, meaning it is able to receive a booster rabies vaccination within the required window. When there is “a reasonable suspicion of exposure,” a dog, cat, or ferret with a valid vaccination history must receive a booster shot within 96 hours.  By contrast, an unvaccinated cat or dog must either be destroyed or quarantined for a period up to four months, with six months for a ferret.

Because the resident and another family member handled the dog after exposure to the raccoon, a Communicable Disease Nurse from the Orange County Health Department has contacted them to evaluate the risk of rabies exposure. As is always the case, a decision about the post-exposure prophylaxis that protects people from rabies is based upon an assessment of all the factors involved in this type of situation.

The County recorded a total of four positive cases last year and nine the year before.

Orange County Animal Services will host a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic on Thursday, October 24 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Eno River Farmer’s Market in Hillsborough. Animal Services will offer one and three-year rabies vaccines for $10 and microchips for $35.  Three-year vaccinations require proof of a previous vaccine in the form of a printed certificate. More information and clinic requirements can be found here.

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