12th case of rabies confirmed in New Hanover County | Families

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The 12th case of rabies has been confirmed in New Hanover County, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

Thursday, Animal Services picked up a raccoon that had been fighting with a dog in the area of Barnett Avenue. After the raccoon was secured, it was transported to the state lab and euthanized, then tested for rabies.

Friday, it was revealed that the raccoon tested positive for the disease.

Officials then let the dog’s owner know the results, who had handled the dog when the raccoon incident occurred. Animal service officials then confirmed that the dog had been re-boostered.

According to guidelines specified by the Centers for Disease Controls, animals with a current rabies vaccination at the time of exposure should be re-boostered within five days.

The news release said that it is recommended that all primary rabies vectors—raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats—be handled with protective gloves to prevent transmission. The primary route of transmission is through a bite, salivary contact to an open wound or salivary contact to the mucous membranes of a potential victim.

All pets should be vaccinated as a primary defense against the spread of rabies.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.