2 raccoons confirmed as rabid

Durham, NC -- Orange County Animal Control officials have confirmed two recent rabies cases and suspect rabies in a third.

The first incident, which happened last week, involved a woman in southern Orange County out walking with her dogs. Off in the distance she noticed the animals fighting with something. Upon closer inspection, she found a dead raccoon.

She immediately isolated the dogs and did not handle them with her hands. She called a friend to bring a bag and shovel to carefully scoop up the raccoon. Both people were careful not to touch the dead animal.

The raccoon tested positive for rabies at the state lab. Each of the dogs was current on its rabies vaccinations and only needed a rabies booster.

Later in the week, a resident of the Hurdle Mills area reported a neighbor's dog fighting with a raccoon in the back yard. When Animal Control arrived the fight had ended and the dog had returned home. The Animal Control officer searched the woods and found the sick raccoon.

The raccoon was killed and later also tested positive. The dog was not current on its rabies vaccination and the owners elected to have the animal put to sleep.

In a third incident, Animal Control was called to investigate a dead raccoon in Chapel Hill. A town resident suspected his three dogs might have killed the raccoon.

The carcass was somewhat decomposed and officers were not able to determine if the raccoon had had contact with the dogs. The state lab but was unable to perform a rabies test on the dead animal because the carcass was too decomposed. The three dogs were current on rabies vaccinations and received boosters within 72 hours, as required by law.

The rash of incidents elicited a warming from Dale Teer, the county's acting director of Animal Control.

"Citizens need to understand that rabid wildlife can be present anywhere in the county," said Teer. "Rabies is endemic in our area. Simple preventive steps can be taken to protect our families and pets."

Authorities urge pet owners to keep their pets' rabies vaccinations up to date, keep pets inside at night and call Animal Control to report any possible rabies incident.

For more information on rabies, see www.co.orange.nc.us/health and click on Animal Control or www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/rabies.html. A special kid's page is available at kids.dhhs.state.nc.us/rabies/default.asp