Moose Droppings

First Ever Mad Ferret in North Carolina

Nov 21, 2006 @ 10:43 pm by Moose

Four recent cases of rabies reported in North Carolina including one in a pet ferret.

A rabid dog was identified in Onslow County last week, along with a rabid cat documented in Cleveland County–requiring seven exposed persons to receive rabies post exposure treatment (PET). The first ferret ever to test positive for rabies in North Carolina was found in Buncombe County, and a groundhog recently tested positive for rabies in Forsyth County.

Pet owners must be diligent on getting pets vaccinated against rabies and protect them from making contact with wildlife. Raccoons are the suspected culprits in all these cases and the arrival of cool weather does not remove the risk of disease transmission.

In three of the four cases the animals were determined to be infected with the strain of rabies virus from raccoons. Analysis of the dog from Onslow is ongoing, though it is considered likely to be infected with the raccoon strain. The raccoon is the primary reservoir for rabies in North Carolina and demonstrates that care must be taken to protect ourselves and our pets from diseases that occur in nature. In no case should people attempt to handle or capture wild animals that may carry rabies, the risk is simply too great. Never touch, pet or feed wild animals, whether they appear to be sick or not.

The Horse

For additional information on rabies check out the North Carolina Division of Public Health’s Web Page on Rabies