UNC Charlotte expert shares what you need to know about rabies after recent North Carolina cases

In late August, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed multiple rabies cases in baby goats at a mobile petting zoo based in Iredell County, north of Charlotte. Hundreds of people may have been exposed to rabies from the goats when the zoo visited various locations over a five-week period.

Rafael Vieira is an associate professor in the Department of Public Health and Health Administration at the College of Health and Human Services. His research focuses on vector-borne and transboundary zoonotic diseases, the ecoepidemiology of ticks and tick-borne agents, pathogen discovery and One Health. Vieira answered questions about rabies, how it can spread and how it can be prevented.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported that four baby goats were likely exposed to rabies by a skunk that entered their pen. How could the skunk have infected the goats?

The rabies virus is transmitted via infected saliva through the bites and scratches of an infected animal. The NCDHHS reported that the baby goats were probably exposed to rabies by a skunk. Thus a bite or scratch may be the potential route of transmission.

Could the goats have been vaccinated, which would have prevented the rabies transmission?

No rabies vaccination is licensed for goats in the U.S.

Which animals in North Carolina are common carriers of rabies?

In the United States, more than 90% of reported cases of rabies in animals occur in wild mammals. In North Carolina, rabies is most commonly found in raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats.

Explain how rabies is a zoonotic disease.

Zoonotic diseases, also known as zoonoses, are caused by germs (bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi) transmitted from an infected animal to humans or vice versa. Roughly 60% of known human infectious diseases and 75% of new or emerging ones originate in animals. Examples of zoonotic diseases include rabies, Lyme disease, West Nile virus and leishmaniasis, among others.

How is rabies transmitted from an animal to a human?

The rabies virus is transmitted via direct contact with infected saliva that can enter the body through open cuts and scrapes or through the eyes, nose and mouth. It can also be transmitted when someone is bitten or scratched by an infected animal. Once infected, the rabies virus spreads throughout the central nervous system and salivary glands, where it can be transmitted to another animal or person.

What are the symptoms or signs that an animal has rabies?

Clinical signs of rabies are suggestive but not definitive. Sick animals of all species usually exhibit typical signs of central nervous system disturbance and may show sudden behavioral shifts, loss of coordination and progressive paralysis. Behavioral changes may include docile pets that suddenly become aggressive, nocturnal animals (raccoons, bats, foxes) wandering around during the day, and wildlife that doesn’t exhibit fear of humans or pets, and don’t run away when approached.

What happens if rabies is left untreated in animals?

There is no effective treatment or cure for rabies once clinical signs appear, making the disease almost always fatal.

How can the disease be prevented?

The best way to avoid rabies is to keep your distance from wildlife. Do not approach wild animals if they are injured, sick or dead. If you observe an animal acting sick or abnormal, contact animal control, especially if you see nocturnal animals (raccoons, bats or foxes) active during the day.

Pet owners should keep pets up to date on rabies vaccines, and avoid their contact with wildlife. Vaccination is also recommended for livestock (cattle, horses and sheep). As mentioned, there is no rabies vaccine licensed for goats in the U.S.

If you’ve had contact with any wildlife, particularly if you’ve been bitten or scratched, you should follow the CDC guidelines:
Wash any wounds immediately with soap and water for 15 minutes.

• Talk with a health care or public health professional about your risk and if you need rabies-related care.
• Tell your health care provider or public health professional about the type of animal you encountered.
• Make note of and tell your health care provider or public health professional if you see any signs that the animal is not acting normally.
• If the animal that bit you is a pet, ask the owner for proof that the animal is up to date on their rabies vaccination.

People with jobs that require contact with animals (veterinary professionals, animal control workers, researchers, agricultural workers and others) are at increased risk of rabies exposure and should follow the CDC Rabies Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Guidance.

Written by Rafael Vieira and Pam Davis