Guilford County is becoming a state leader in drawing business to the area, but it’s also, in recent years, becoming known for something else not quite as positive.

In the State of North Carolina’s final numbers for rabies cases in animals for the year 2022, for instance, Guilford County had a lot more than its fair share of rabid animals.

This year it looks like the problem will be even worse.

From January 1, 2022, to December  31, 2022, Guilford County had 22 cases of animals with the disease – which was enough that year for Guilford County to win the title for Most Rabid Animals Found In A North Carolina County.

It’s only August of 2024 right now, and already Guilford County has seen 16 confirmed rabies cases in animals.

This week, the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health alerted residents that a raccoon on Burnetts Chapel Road in Greensboro had tested positive for the rabies virus on Thursday, August 22.

This sixteenth confirmed case of animal rabies in the county so far this year comes right on the heels of another recent announcement that a rabid fox was discovered in the county.

So, Guilford County is well on track to beat its 2022 numbers of rabid animals –  a year in which it led the state in that unappealing category.

Disease overall in animals has been a major problem this year in the area. The Guilford County animal shelter earlier this year had to temporarily cease its intake of cats, and then, in early August had to stop taking in dogs for several weeks, both situations due to concerns about the spread of various animal diseases among animals at the shelter.

That has caused Guilford County Animal Services to go on a major PR push to convince pet owners across the county to establish a good relationship with a veterinarian and make sure their pets all get the recommended vaccinations.

According to North Carolina law, all domestic pets (cats, dogs, and ferrets), whether living inside or outside, aged four months or older are required to be vaccinated for rabies. Animals that are “confined in outdoor fenced areas” should also be vaccinated for the disease according to county health officials.

Animals Services also advises that actively supervising pets when they’re outdoors can help prevent contact with wild animals and lessen the possibility of rabies exposure.

In 2022, Guilford County handily beat out the more populous Mecklenburg and Wake counties to win the unwanted title in the state as the county with the most rabid animals.  That year, both Mecklenburg County and Wake County had 14 cases of animals that tested positive for rabies.

“Similarly situated” counties – the ones that Guilford County often looks to for comparison in many categories – don’t have the same high rabies counts.  Durham County, which is considered similar to Guilford County in a number of ways, only had two cases of rabies in 2022.

Some counties in the central part of the state reveal the same low numbers: Rockingham County had only two cases; Alamance County had just one; Davidson County had eight; Stokes County had five; Caswell County had two that year.

Two years ago, the only neighboring county that had a number close to Guilford County’s 22 was Forsyth County with 20 – and that county earned the honor of second place.

Guilford County also had a wider variety of rabid animals than most.  One county in 2022 had 12 cases – however, all of those were rabid raccoons.  Guilford County that year had three rabid bats, one rabid cat, eight rabid foxes, six rabid raccoons and four rabid skunks.

The Guilford County Health Department gives the following advice, which, really, should go without saying:

  • “Wild animals are not usually friendly so be very careful if they approach you.”
  • “Do not try to separate fighting animals.”
  • “Do not approach, try to play with, touch, rescue or treat any wildlife.”
  • “Avoid direct contact with wildlife, dead or alive.”
  • ”If you find an injured or rabid animal, call Guilford County Animal Control.”

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