A raccoon that fought with a pet dog has tested positive for the rabies virus in Henderson County, according to health officials . The incident happened Thursday in Mills River, and county officials received confirmation Saturday from the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health.Health officials said animal control officers found the raccoon dead from injuries inflicted by the dog. The dog was up-to-date on its rabies vaccine and is currently being quarantined for 45 days to monitor for signs of rabies, officials said.This is the first positive rabies case in Henderson County this year, according to Henderson County information specialist Maj. Frank Stout. Deputies will post flyers and contact residents within a 1-mile radius of the encounter in Mills River to make sure all are aware of the incident, Stout said.The raccoon may have interacted with other pets or wild animals in the area, so residents should be alert for any unusual behaviors or sickness in their pets or wildlife.Anyone who may have had contact with an unfamiliar pet or a wild animal recently should immediately contact a communicable disease nurse with the Department of Public Health at 828-694-6019. If you think your pet was exposed or have questions, call the Henderson County Sheriff Office’s Animal Enforcement Division at 697-4911.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.Officials with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Animal Enforcement Division and the Department of Public Health are urging residents to make sure their pet’s rabies vaccination is up-to-date 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.For more information, click here.
HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. —A raccoon that fought with a pet dog has tested positive for the rabies virus in Henderson County, according to health officials . The incident happened Thursday in Mills River, and county officials received confirmation Saturday from the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health.
Health officials said animal control officers found the raccoon dead from injuries inflicted by the dog. The dog was up-to-date on its rabies vaccine and is currently being quarantined for 45 days to monitor for signs of rabies, officials said.This is the first positive rabies case in Henderson County this year, according to Henderson County information specialist Maj. Frank Stout. Deputies will post flyers and contact residents within a 1-mile radius of the encounter in Mills River to make sure all are aware of the incident, Stout said.The raccoon may have interacted with other pets or wild animals in the area, so residents should be alert for any unusual behaviors or sickness in their pets or wildlife.Anyone who may have had contact with an unfamiliar pet or a wild animal recently should immediately contact a communicable disease nurse with the Department of Public Health at 828-694-6019. If you think your pet was exposed or have questions, call the Henderson County Sheriff Office’s Animal Enforcement Division at 697-4911.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.Officials with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Animal Enforcement Division and the Department of Public Health are urging residents to make sure their pet’s rabies vaccination is up-to-date 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.For more information, click here.
