Lee County government on Thursday announced that there have been three rabies exposures to local residents since April.
Two of the exposures involved feral cat attacks and the other involved a fox attack.
North Carolina law requires that all pet dogs, cats, and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age and continuously be updated. If your pet (vaccinated or unvaccinated) comes in contact with a wild animal, seek care from a veterinarian immediately.
Rabies is 99.9 percent fatal in humans. Never touch a dead wild animal with your bare hands. Humans who have been exposed to rabies through direct contact should immediately begin treatment with the rabies vaccine post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent contracting the virus.
If you see stray dogs, cats, or wildlife in your neighborhood, please call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Unit at (919) 775-5531. If you have questions regarding your own exposure to any animal, please contact your healthcare provider to discuss your situation.
The Lee County Health Department will host a rabies clinic on June 29 at 1450 N. Horner Blvd. in Sanford from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Animals must be at least four months of age to be vaccinated against rabies. The cost is $10 per animal and all dogs must be on a leash and all cats in a carrier.