Wake Health Officials Issue Rabies Notice For North Raleigh Residents

8/4/2006

Two recent confirmed rabies cases in feral cats found in the Spring Forest Road and Capital Boulevard vicinity of North Raleigh have prompted local health officials to issue a rabies notice for residents and visitors. A feral cat is one that is wild or untamed. Anyone in the area who has been bitten or scratched by an unfamiliar animal since early July should call Wake County's Community Health Communicable Disease section at (919) 250-4462.

On July 12, an individual at Dominion Apartments on Spring Forest Road was scratched by a feral cat that was captured, quarantined and later euthanized. It tested positive for rabies. The bite victim is receiving medical treatment for rabies exposure.

On July 21, an employee at Target on Capital Boulevard was bitten by a feral cat that entered the store's loading dock area. This cat, which was captured and quarantined, tested positive for rabies on Thursday, August 3. The Target employee is also receiving medical treatment for rabies. The second cat has been euthanized.

"We don't want to alarm residents of North Raleigh, but they should be aware of these two cases and of the potential for exposure to themselves, family members and their pets" said Gibbie Harris, Wake County Community Health director. "Anyone living, shopping or visiting the vicinity of Capital Boulevard and Spring Forest Road, who has been scratched or bitten by an animal they do not know, especially a feral cat, should call our clinic at (919) 250-4462. Our nurses will be able to assess if they need to seek medical treatment."

Whenever a person is bitten or scratched by an unknown animal, they should thoroughly clean the wound with soap and warm water and contact their physician or Wake County Community Health immediately.

Most people are beginning to understand the potential risk for rabies among wildlife, such as raccoons or bats, Harris said. "However, it's extremely important to avoid physical contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats," she said. "A person's good intentions could place them at-risk for this serious illness."

Wake County Animal Control officials urge the public to:

Keep children and pets away from wild animals and animals you do not know.
Do not feed or pet any animal unless you know it has been vaccinated against rabies.
Make sure your own pets have up-to-date rabies vaccinations.
Do not leave your pets outdoors unattended.
Do not try to separate animals that are fighting.

"The most important and least expensive action is to keep your animal's rabies vaccination current," said Andre Pierce, director of Environmental Health and Safety for Wake County. "In addition, if your pet comes in contact with an animal that might be rabid, contact your veterinarian immediately. If you are bitten or scratched by an unfamiliar cat or dog, you should get the owner's name, address, and telephone number, whenever possible."

Community and Environmental Health officials will be distributing rabies information and pamplets in English and Spanish to apartment complexes and businesses in the Capital Boulevard/Spring Forest Road area.

To report animal complaints and stray animals:

In Wake County (except Cary, Garner, Holly Springs and Raleigh), call (919) 212-PETS (7387)
In Cary, call (919) 319-4517
In Garner, call (919) 772-8896
In Holly Springs, call (919) 557-9111
In Raleigh, call (919) 831-6311

More information on rabies can be found online at: N.C. Division of Public Health www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/rabies.html or www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/ at the National Center for Infectious Diseases.

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