Rabies in Buncombe: Get Your Pets Vaccinated!

Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services wants to notify the public of a rabies case that was reported this week in the Black Mountain area. A family dog was not vaccinated and contracted rabies from an animal in the area, quite possibly a raccoon. This dog was allowed to roam in the neighborhood and could potentially have exposed other animals or people.

Contact with a rabid animal presents a risk of exposure to rabies. If you live in the Black Mountain area and had contact with an animal that was acting abnormally (acting unusually aggressive or salivating) it is extremely important that you contact the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office at 250-6670 so your situation can be assessed.

Rabies is caused by a virus that is spread through the saliva of an infected animal. When contracted by humans, rabies is deadly unless early treatment is sought. There is no cure once symptoms develop, so immediate treatment is important to prevent the disease.

The Buncombe County Department of Health makes the following recommendations to prevent the spread of rabies:

• Keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs.  If your pet’s vaccinations have expired or you cannot readily locate proof of current rabies vaccinations, get your pets to a veterinarian and have them vaccinated IMMEDIATELY. There are low cost rabies vaccination clinics throughout the year. Visit the Asheville Humane Society’s website to find out more.
• Stay away from wild animals and any animal you don’t know. Keep children and pets away from these animals. Don’t try to feed, touch, or play with a wild animal.
• Don’t allow pets to run at large.
• Secure garbage in containers and take trash containers out in the morning of pick up, not the night before. Trash can attract wild animals that may be carrying rabies.
• Avoid contact with bats. If you find a bat during daylight hours, it is most likely unhealthy and should not be touched. If you find a bat in your home, immediately call Buncombe County Animal Control at 250-6670 before trying to capture the bat.
• Keep bird-feeder areas clean and keep seed off the ground to avoid attracting animals that carry rabies.
• Secure crawl spaces under sheds, porches, decks and homes that could house rabid animals.

Take Action if You Are Bitten or Exposed to the Saliva of a Rabid Animal

If you or someone in your family is exposed to a rabid animal, rabies can be prevented through a series of shots called rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

If you are bitten by any animal, follow these steps:

1. Immediately wash the wound well with soap and water and see a healthcare provider or go to the Emergency Department of your local hospital.
2. Contact Animal Control, if you or your pet is bitten, to assist in capturing the animal for observation or rabies testing. If the animal is caught and tested and does not have rabies, you may not need to have post-exposure shots and your pet may not need to be quarantined or and won't have to be put to sleep.

Animal Control phone numbers: 

• Asheville City limits:  Asheville Police 252-1110
• Buncombe County & Black Mountain:  Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office 250-6670
• Other municipalities such as Biltmore Forest, Montreat, Weaverville, or Woodfin:  Buncombe County Animal Control 250-6670

For questions about rabies exposure and treatment, contact the Buncombe County Communicable Disease program at 250-5109.  What you do matters: be aware and get your pets vaccinated to help stop the spread of this dangerous disease.