Buncombe County Health & Human Services releases rabies advisory following Beaver Lake incident

Press release:

Documented Rabies Case: Get Your Pets Vaccinated!

Buncombe County, N.C. – Buncombe County Health and Human Services wants to notify the public of a confirmed rabies case where a rabid beaver attacked a person at Beaver Lake in North Asheville.  This unprovoked attack by a wild animal is a critical reminder to our community to be aware and to take action to help stop the spread of rabies.

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

Rabies is not unusual among wildlife; however it’s important that steps be taken to prevent exposure to the disease among humans and pets. In North Carolina rabies is most common in raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats but has also been found in dogs, cats, horses, cattle and other animals, such as beavers.

BCHHS makes the following recommendations to prevent the spread of rabies:

Keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets and dogs. There are many low-cost vaccination clinics throughout the county. For information on low-cost rabies vaccination clinics, visit ashevillehumane.org. The next clinic is at Leicester Community Center on July 30 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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 with tight-fitting lids, and take them out in the morning of pick up, not the night before. Feed pets indoors or remove food when your pet is finished eating outside. Wild animals are attracted to pet food left outdoors.

Avoid contact with bats.  If you find a bat during daylight hours, it is most likely unhealthy and should not be touched.  If you wake up to a bat in your home, call animal control immediately. Bat bites are hard to see and for this reason, the bat will need to be tested for rabies.

Keep bird-feeder areas clean, and use bird feeders that keep seed off the ground. Foxes are attracted to small animals congregating on the ground. If you see foxes often, remove all feeders.

Close off crawl spaces under sheds, porches, decks and homes. Some wildlife may use these spaces to rest or to build their dens.

Take Action If You Are Bitten

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:

• Immediately wash the wound well with soap and water and see a healthcare provider or go to the Emergency Department of your local hospital.

• 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.

Animal Control phone numbers: 

• Asheville City limits – Asheville Police 252-1110

• Buncombe County – Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office 250-6670

• For rabies issues in Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville and Woodfin, call Buncombe County Department of Health 250-5038.

Contact your local health department with questions about rabies exposure.  A trained disease control nurse can talk about your exposure with you and help you decide if rabies vaccines are needed.  BCHHS Communicable Disease program can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (828) 250-5109.