13th case of rabies in NHC identified in fox | Families

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - The 13th case of rabies this year has been confirmed in New Hanover County, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office

On Monday, Animal Services went to a home along Antoinette Drive to pick up a fox that had reportedly fought with a dog, which they transported to the state lab to be tested. It was later determined that the fox tested positive for rabies.

The dog’s owner was then notified of the fox’s status. Luckily, the dog was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination, and there was no human contact during the fight that occurred. Still, the dog was re-boostered following the incident.

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.

This case is the 146th in overall cases within the county.

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