Orange County Confirms 5th Rabid Animal Case in May After Chapel Hill Raccoon Tests Positive
Updated
Updated · Chapelboro.com · May 28
Orange County Confirms 5th Rabid Animal Case in May After Chapel Hill Raccoon Tests Positive
3 articles · Updated · Chapelboro.com · May 28
A raccoon found near East Franklin Street and Glendale Drive in Chapel Hill tested positive for rabies after Orange County Animal Services sent it to the state lab following a May 23 altercation with two dogs.
The dogs' condition was not disclosed, but OCAS said keeping pets current on rabies shots is the most effective protection and pointed owners to veterinarians or county low-cost vaccination options.
The case is the community's fifth confirmed rabies infection in May 2026, underscoring a recent cluster of animal exposures in Orange County.
On May 15, two people began rabies treatment after a fox bite, and that fox still had not been found as of May 27.
Amid a rabies surge, will officials deploy wildlife vaccine baits in Orange County to halt the spread?
Five rabies cases this month. What is fueling this unprecedented outbreak, and are more expected?