A rabid skunk on Ivywood Drive has health officials in Shelby on alert, with Cleveland County confirming the animal as the tenth rabid case in the county so far this year. The Cleveland County Health Department is urging residents to steer clear of stray or wild animals, keep pets’ rabies vaccinations current, and closely supervise them while they are outside. Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed is asked to contact a health care provider or the county health department for a rabies risk assessment.
County Confirms Tenth Rabid Animal
The Cleveland County Health Department reported on its website that the skunk was detected on April 9 on Ivywood Drive and later tested positive for rabies, officially marking it as the tenth confirmed rabid animal in the county this year, according to the Cleveland County Health Department. The same alert went out on the county’s Facebook page, Cleveland County Government on Facebook, where residents were reminded to avoid wild animals and were given local contact numbers for questions or to report possible exposure.
Cluster Of Cases Since January
County records show this latest case is part of a string of rabies positives in local wildlife since the start of the year. Two skunks were confirmed on January 15, followed by more skunk cases in February and March. Late last month, a fox on Padgett Road also tested positive, a case detailed in Rabid Fox On Padgett Road. Local station WCCB Charlotte reported that two additional skunks tested positive on April 2, continuing the run of cases.
State Law And Reporting
Under North Carolina law, dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies and wear current rabies tags, and local health directors can order quarantine or other control measures for animals that may have been exposed, according to the N.C. General Statutes. Residents who think they have been exposed can contact the Cleveland County Health Department at 980-484-5169 or 980-484-5100 for a rabies risk assessment, as the county advises.
What To Do If Exposed
If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, officials say to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical care right away. Postexposure prophylaxis may be recommended and works best when started quickly, according to the CDC and guidance from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Pet owners who believe their animals may have been exposed are urged to call their veterinarian or Cleveland County Animal Services at 704-481-9884 and follow local instructions on quarantine or testing.
County officials also recommend keeping trash and pet food secured, walking pets on leashes, keeping them away from wildlife, and reporting any sick or unusually tame wild animals so they can be tested. For nonemergency questions or to report concerning wildlife, residents can call Cleveland County Animal Services at 704-481-9884 or the Health Department at 980-484-5169.
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