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Second rabies case confirmed

By Bill Moss, Published: May 20, 2016

A raccoon that came in contact with a dog in the Bald Rock Road area on Tuesday has tested positive for the rabies virus, officials said.

County officials received confirmation Friday from the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. This is the second confirmed case of rabies in Henderson County in the last week.

Officials with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Animal Enforcement Division and the Department of Public Health are urging residents to ensure their pet’s rabies vaccination is current and to contact a veterinarian immediately if their pet seems injured from an unknown cause, displays unusual behaviors or appears sick—even if the animal is current on its rabies vaccination.

This case occurred in the Bald Rock Road area. However it is possible that the raccoon may have had contact with other wild and domestic animals. All county residents should continue to be cautious to protect families, neighbors and pets – regardless of where in the county you live.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease affecting the central nervous system. Rabies can be prevented but not cured. A healthy animal or human can get rabies when bitten, licked or scratched by a sick animal.
Residents in the affected area who have questions may call the Public Health Communicable Disease Nurse at 828-694-6019 or the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office at 828-697-4912.