Wake County urges residents to guard folks and pets from rabies

County kicks off consciousness marketing campaign to focus on World Rabies Day

A chunk or scratch from a wild animal or unvaccinated pet may put you and your loved ones in danger for rabies. Luckily, there are steps you may take now that may defend each people and pets from this lethal however preventable virus.

To mark World Rabies Day, the biggest occasion on the worldwide rabies calendar, the County is launching a brand new rabies consciousness marketing campaign that includes academic movies, downloadable graphics and different sources to make it simple for the neighborhood to study extra about rabies and unfold the phrase.

“Protecting our community from rabies starts with awareness and action,” mentioned Wake County Commissioner Don Mial. “Vaccinating pets, avoiding contact with wild or unknown animals and seeking medical attention when needed can save lives.”

The Stop Rabies marketing campaign is a collaboration between Wake County Public Health, Wake County Animal Services and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, combining experience in neighborhood well being, animal management and wildlife administration to make sure residents have the instruments and information to remain secure.

Rabies is a lethal viral illness solely mammals can contract and transmit. It can infect each animals and people. If an uncovered individual or animal just isn’t handled shortly, the virus is nearly all the time deadly. Rabies can unfold to folks and pets if they’re bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. In North Carolina, rabies is mostly present in wild animals comparable to bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes.

Wake County Public Health investigated 1,443 animal bites in 2024, and up to now in 2025 have investigated 1,041 circumstances. These are chunk investigations and don’t imply the animals examined constructive for rabies. Data from 2024 reveals the highest animals concerned embrace:

• Dogs (1,024)
• Cats (263)
• Bats (115)
• Raccoon (13)
• Fox (6)
• Ferret (1)
  

From 2015 to 2024, 17 cases of human rabies were documented, two of which had been contracted exterior of the United States.

“Animals that exhibit symptoms such as unusual aggression or tameness, difficulty walking, staggering or swaying, paralysis, seizures and/or difficulty swallowing should be treated with extreme caution,” says North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Wildlife Health Biologist Miranda Turner. “If you are concerned about how an animal is behaving then alerting the proper authorities is the best thing you can do to make sure you stay safe.”

How to Protect Yourself and Your Pets

• Keep your pets updated on their rabies vaccines.
• Avoid contact with wild, stray and unknown animals, particularly these appearing surprisingly or sick.
• Wash bites or scratches totally with cleaning soap and working water for a minimum of quarter-hour.
• Seek medical care instantly if bitten or scratched by an animal.
• Report stray or suspicious animals to Wake County Animal Control.
  

World Rabies Day is the most important occasion on the worldwide rabies calendar. This yr’s theme, “Act Now: You, Me, Community”, highlights the significance of everybody taking duty, working collectively and driving actual change.

To study extra about rabies and to entry all the marketing campaign creatives, go to wake.gov/stoprabies.