FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Terri N. Craver
January 10, 2019
Office: (336) 570-6367
First Rabies Case of 2019 Confirmed in Alamance County
BURLINGTON – On January 8, the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh confirmed Alamance County’s first case of rabies for the year.
On January 8, Alamance County Health Department was notified that a fox came in contact with several people in the Calvin Street area of the Twin Lakes community in Burlington on January 5, of which one person from the group was bit. Alamance County Animal Control sent the fox to the State Laboratory for Public Health for testing and the fox was positive for rabies. The bite victim began preventive treatment. If you live in this area and have outside pets, the Health Department encourages you to examine them for any wounds that may have come from contact with this fox and notify animal control or the Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367 if you have questions or concerns.
If you are bitten by any animal:
Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control. If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address. Give this information to animal control or the health department.
Do not try to catch any wild or stray animal
Rabies vaccinations are available for dogs and cats at Tractor Supply, 3129 Garden Road in Burlington, every Saturday 4p-5:30p. The cost is $25. Rabies vaccinations are also available at Pet Supermarket, 2749 South Church Street in Burlington, every other Sunday 10a-11:30a. The next clinic is January 13. The cost is $15.
Last year, Alamance County had five confirmed animal cases of rabies.
For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccinations requirements, contact the Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.
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