Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease that can affect any  mammal. The virus can be transmitted when the saliva, blood, or nervous tissue of an infected animal comes in contact with broken skin or any mucous membrane such as in the eyes, nose or mouth. The virus infects the central nervous system and ultimately causes death. Rabies travels from the brain to the salivary glands during the final stage of the disease—this is when an animal can spread the disease, most commonly through a bite. There are different strains of rabies but the most common type in North Carolina is raccoon-variant rabies.

To learn more about rabies and distemper, visit CDC's rabies web page or EPI Public Health NC's rabies web page. 

All species of mammals can contract rabies. In North Carolina, rabies is most commonly found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. However, other species, such as deer, coyote and bobcats, have been found to be infected with rabies.

Any wildlife that appears ill or exhibiting unusual behavior may be showing signs of rabies. The first signs of rabies may be nonspecific and include lethargy, fever, vomiting, and anorexia. Signs progress within days to disorientation, erratic behavior, weakness, paralysis, seizures, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, abnormal behavior, aggression, and/or self-mutilation. However, most of these signs can also be indicative of other diseases like distemper or lead poisoning. Learn more about distemper. There are few behavioral signs that are telltale of rabies alone. 

Rabies ultimately causes death in infected individuals usually within days after the onset of symptoms. 

People and pets can get rabies from a rabid animal or possibly through scratches, abrasions, open wounds, or mucous membranes that come in contact with saliva or brain tissue from a rabid animal. Rabies can’t go through unbroken skin. The rabies virus is short-lived when exposed to open air—it can only survive in saliva and dies when the animal’s saliva dries up. If you come across wildlife that looks ill or is acting strangely, give it a wide berth. If you handle a pet who has been in a fight with a potentially rabid animal, take precautions such as wearing gloves to keep any still-fresh saliva from getting into an open wound. To prevent rabies in pets, keep rabies vaccinations current and supervise pets outside or keep dogs on a leash. If you or your pet have come into contact with an animal showing symptoms of rabies, contact your local health department and local animal control.