BURLINGTON – The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh has confirmed Alamance County’s fifth rabies case for the year.

On September 1, five dogs fought with a raccoon on Pleasant Hill Church Road in southern Alamance County near the Chatham County line. The raccoon was tested and found to be positive for rabies. All five dogs involved were up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. The dogs were given rabies booster vaccinations on September 3 and will need no further intervention.

This is the second positive rabies case in this area of the county in the past few weeks. On August 15, another raccoon tested positive for rabies. Three of the dogs involved in the September 1 case were also involved in the August 15 case.

“These pet owners have kept their dogs up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations and, because of that, their dogs are running and playing freely today,” stated Environmental Health Director Carl Carroll. “It’s important for all pet owners to maintain current rabies vaccinations on pets. It is the law in North Carolina.”

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 animal.

In 2013, there were eight confirmed rabies cases in Alamance County and a total of 380 confirmed rabies cases statewide. For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccinations requirements, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.