Rabies Alert Issued In Charlotte After Raccoon Tests Positive

CHARLOTTE, NC — Mecklenburg County Health Department issued a rabies alert notification in southeast Charlotte Tuesday evening after a raccoon tested positive for rabies following two potential cat exposures in the community.

The raccoon is the second to test positive for rabies in the county this year.

The alert for the neighborhood including Old Gate Drive in the 28105 zip code was to be issued March 23 at 7 p.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control said in a statement.

"AC&C will be setting traps in an attempt to capture the potentially exposed community cats. These cats will be scanned for microchips before a course of action is determined," AC&C said.

So far in 2021, rabid racoons have been located in the 28226 and 28105 zip codes.

Here's a list of where 15 animals tested positive for rabies in Mecklenburg County in 2020:

• 9 raccoons (28226, 28227, 28207, 28273, 28205, 28216, 28273, 28209 and 28211 zip codes)
• 2 fox (28078, 28227 zip code)
• 2 bats (28205, 28270 zip codes)
• 1 cat (28105 zip code)
• 1 skunk (28227 zip code)

AC&C said the rabies incident underscores the importance of keeping pet vaccinations up to date.

AC&C offers a free monthly rabies vaccination clinic for Mecklenburg County residents, on the second Saturday of every month. The clinic operations from 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the animal shelter at 8315 Byrum Drive in Charlotte. The clinic also offers microchipping for $10 and free pet identification tags.

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