Rabies is a deadly viral disease affecting the central nervous system.  Rabies can be prevented but not cured. 

A healthy animal or human can get rabies when bitten, licked or scratched by a sick animal.  The virus lives in the saliva.  You can get rabies if animal saliva gets into a cut or scratch. 

In 2007, 23 rabid animals were identified in Mecklenburg County.  In 2006, there were 14 rabid animals identified .  Fortunately, rabies is easy to prevent by taking a few simple precautions.  

• Make sure your pets are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.  Animals cannot be treated for exposure to rabies.  Your pets should always wear their license tags.
• Puppies & kittens that have not been vaccinated should not be left outdoors un-supervised.
• Obey leash laws and keep your pets restrained.
• Report stray animals to Animal Care & Control (704.7600 0r 311).
• Teach your children to stay away from animals they do not know including wild animals.  A rabid wild animal may act tame.
• If raccoons or other animals are lurking around your yard and acting sick or abnormal, call Animal Care & Control.
• Avoid attracting or handling wild animals.  Feed your pets indoors.  Do not toss table scraps into your yard.  Do not leave pet food outside for any length of time.
• Keep your property free of exposed garbage, pet food, and bird feed.  If trash must be stored outside at night, put it in sturdy tightly closed containers.
• Keep your home in good repair to prevent animals from entering through cracks and crevices.  Use strong metal mesh to cover potential entryways such as chimneys, dryer vents, and holes in eaves.
• If you find a bat in your home, call Animal Care & Control and your physician immediately.  Minimal contact with bats may result in rabies transmission.
• If you are disposing of a wild animal, wear gloves and use a shovel – avoid direct contact.
• Do not touch an injured animal - call Animal Care & Control.
• Stay away from animal traps and storm drains.  Raccoons travel through storm drains.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, follow these guidelines: