Rabies
Rabies is a preventable disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite
of a rabid animal. That is because rabid animals have the disease in their saliva
or drool. If rabies enters the body, it attacks the brain and spinal cord.
In North Carolina, raccoons are more likely to have rabies than any other animal.
However, cats, dogs, foxes, skunks, and farm animals can also get rabies. Even humans
can get rabies. Rabies kills if it is not prevented. Once signs of the disease appear
in an animal or a human, they usually die within 10 days. But you can get anti-rabies
shots to fight off the disease. Rabies shots need to be given as soon as possible
after a bite has occurred, before symptoms appear. The vaccination consists of a
series of six shots given over 30 days.