On July 19, the North Carolina State Lab of Public Health in Raleigh confirmed Alamance County’s third case of rabies for the year.
On July 17, Alamance County Health Department was notified of a human exposure to a fox that occurred in the Barnhardt Lane area of Liberty. The fox was sent to the North Carolina State Lab for rabies testing where it was found to be positive.
The human exposure identified by the health department began immediate post-exposure treatment. Burlington Animal Services (BAS) confirmed 16 cats were potentially exposed to the fox. BAS, along with Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control, are working to get 14 of the 16 cats a booster vaccination, as they have proof of previous vaccination. The remaining two cats are feral and will be under a strict four-month quarantine.
It is recommended that any outside pets near the area of Barnhardt Lane in Liberty be checked and monitored for bite wounds. If you live in this area and are concerned about a possible exposure, please contact the on-call communicable disease nurse at 336-516-7715.
It is North Carolina law that cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies. The first vaccination should occur when the dog or cat is no more than 4 months of age; the second vaccination is required no more than a year later and then again every three years.
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
For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccinations requirements, contact the Alamance County Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.