Agency confirms fourth case of rabies | Local news
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Special for the News Herald
On December 29, the North Carolina State Laboratory informed Caldwell County Animal Control that a skunk undergoing testing was infected with the rabies virus – the fourth confirmed case in the county in 2021.
The skunk, found on Power Drive in Granite Falls, was sent for testing after coming into contact with a dog. The dog received a rabies vaccine booster and is under observation for 45 days.
To protect your pets, make sure their rabies vaccinations are up to date. Rabies is a viral disease of the central nervous system that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. The virus is found in the saliva of an animal with rabies and is usually spread by biting or scratching.
Rabies is common in North Carolina wildlife. Raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats are the most common vectors of the disease. Because rabies is fatal and can also be transmitted to humans, vaccinating dogs and cats against rabies is required by law in North Carolina.
People can protect themselves and their pets from rabies by taking a few simple precautions:
Make sure all of your pets are up to date with their rabies vaccinations. They must always wear their license plate.
Watch your pets to avoid exposure.
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