On November 1st, Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control notified the Alamance County Health Department regarding a fox attack involving a child. The attack occurred in the vicinity of Gilliam Church Road in Elon on the evening of October 30th. The fox was sent to the North Carolina State Lab of Public Health in Raleigh and found positive for rabies.  

A family of five was exposed and sought out medical attention for post-exposure treatment. There is one stray cat in the area, and the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office will set a trap for the stray animal.  

If you live in this area and are concerned about possible exposure to you or your animals, please contact the On-Call Communicable Disease Nurse at 336-516-7715.

It is North Carolina law that cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies. The first vaccination should occur when the dog or cat is no more than four months of age; the second vaccination is required no more than a year later and then again every three years. If your dog or cat needs an updated rabies vaccine, the health department will offer a rabies vaccination event on November 4th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event will be held at the environmental health parking lot at 209 N. Graham-Hopedale Rd, Burlington, NC 27217. The cost is $5.00, cash or check only. Cats must be in a secured cat carrier to be vaccinated. 

If any animal bites you:

• Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
• Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control. If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address. Give this information to animal control or the health department.
• Do not try to catch any wild or stray animals.

For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccination requirements, contact the Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

Health officials urge residents to keep their pets up-to-date on rabies vaccinations

The Alamance County Health Department will be hosting a drive-thru rabies vaccination clinic on November 4 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Environmental Health Office, located at 209 N. Graham-Hopedale Road in Burlington.

The cost of the rabies shot at the clinic will be $5.00 per pet. Cash or check only. The vaccination clinic will be a drive-thru clinic with all owners staying in their cars. Dogs will be vaccinated in the cars and cats MUST be in carriers that health personnel may take them into the building to be vaccinated.

To date, there has been three confirmed cases of rabies in 2023 for Alamance County. In 2022, there was one confirmed rabies case in the county. For more information or questions about rabies control, vaccination requirements, or upcoming clinics, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

The North Carolina Special Supplemental Nutrition Program Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program has changed to a new WIC app.  This means that WIC participants will need to delete the previous Bnft app and download the new official app, ebtEDGE.  Visit www.ebtEDGE.com or download the app where you normally get your phone apps to register your eWIC card and gain access to see your WIC food benefits.

There are several ebtEDGE options available when you go to download the app.  The icon for the WIC-endorsed app resembles a fried egg (a white circle with a smaller yellow circle in the center). It is important to note the WIC app will not ask you for your social security number, so do not enter a social security number. If you are having problems finding the app, you can call the eWIC customer service number at 1-844-230-0813 for assistance.

The new eWIC app looks like this:

The WIC program provides supplemental nutrition (healthy foods), nutrition education, breastfeeding support and community or healthcare referrals for women who: are pregnant, have had a baby in the last 6 months, or are breastfeeding and have had a baby in the last 12 months, as well as infants and children up to 5 years of age. To be eligible, the child or mother must: live in the state of North Carolina, live in a household with an income at or below 185% of the Federal poverty income guidelines, and have a nutrition-related problem or be at risk of developing a nutrition-related problem. The pregnant women, post-partum women and children mentioned above who receive Medicaid or Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP) meet the WIC income eligibility criteria.  Alamance County WIC currently serves more than 4,000 participants.

The Alamance County WIC office is located at 319 N. Graham-Hopedale Rd., Burlington, NC, 27217.  Please call 336-570-6745 with inquiries or to schedule an appointment. You may also visit the WIC website at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwic to learn more about WIC.

                                              This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

On July 19, the North Carolina State Lab of Public Health in Raleigh confirmed Alamance County’s third case of rabies for the year.

 On July 17, Alamance County Health Department was notified of a human exposure to a fox that occurred in the Barnhardt Lane area of Liberty. The fox was sent to the North Carolina State Lab for rabies testing where it was found to be positive.

The human exposure identified by the health department began immediate post-exposure treatment. Burlington Animal Services (BAS) confirmed 16 cats were potentially exposed to the fox. BAS, along with Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control, are working to get 14 of the 16 cats a booster vaccination, as they have proof of previous vaccination. The remaining two cats are feral and will be under a strict four-month quarantine. 

 It is recommended that any outside pets near the area of Barnhardt Lane in Liberty be checked and monitored for bite wounds. If you live in this area and are concerned about a possible exposure, please contact the on-call communicable disease nurse at 336-516-7715.

 It is North Carolina law that cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies. The first vaccination should occur when the dog or cat is no more than 4 months of age; the second vaccination is required no more than a year later and then again every three years.

If you are bitten by any animal:

• Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
• Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control.  If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address.  Give this information to animal control or the health department.
• Do not try to catch any wild or stray animal

For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccinations requirements, contact the Alamance County Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

On June 27, the North Carolina State Lab of Public Health in Raleigh confirmed Alamance
County’s second case of rabies for the year.

On June 23, Alamance County Health Department was notified of a deceased raccoon in the
vicinity of Cane Creek Road in Snow Camp. No human contact or exposure has been identified.
The raccoon was sent to the North Carolina State Lab for rabies testing, where it was found to be
positive.

Two dogs lived on the property and may have been exposed. The owner is following protocol
regarding proper treatment for their animals.

If you live in this area and are concerned about possible exposure to you or your animals, please
contact the on-call Alamance County Communicable Disease Nurse at 336-516-7715.
It is North Carolina law that cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies. The first vaccination
should occur when the dog or cat is no more than four months of age; the second vaccination is
required no more than a year later and then again every three years.

If you are bitten by any animal:
• Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical
attention immediately.
• Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal
control. If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address. Give this
information to animal control or the health department.
• Do not try to catch any wild or stray animal.

For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccinations requirements, contact the
Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

On March 2, the North Carolina State Lab of Public Health in Raleigh confirmed Alamance County’s first case of rabies for the year.

On March 1, Alamance County Health Department was notified of a human exposure to a cat that occurred earlier in the Phelps Workman Road area of Mebane. The cat was sent to the North Carolina State Lab for rabies testing where it was found to be positive.

The human exposure identified by the Health Department was recommended for immediate post-exposure treatment. Four cats lived on the property and may have been exposed. Because the cats were not up-to-date on vaccinations, they were required to receive boosters and to be quarantined for 45 days.  There were also feral cats identified as living in the community that may have come in contact with the cat. All appropriate vaccination and quarantine laws are being followed by the Health Department in cooperation with Alamance County Sheriff’s Office and Burlington Animal Services.

 Because this is a feral community, all animals may not have been identified. It is recommended that any outside pets near the area be checked and monitored for bite wounds.

 If you live in this area and are concerned about a possible exposure, please contact the On-Call Communicable Disease Nurse at 336-516-7715.

 It is North Carolina law that cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies. The first vaccination should occur when the dog or cat is no more than 4 months of age; the second vaccination is required no more than a year later and then again every three years.

If you are bitten by any animal:

• Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
• Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control.  If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address.  Give this information to animal control or the health department.
• Do not try to catch any wild or stray animal

Last year, Alamance County had one confirmed animal cases of rabies.

For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccinations requirements, contact the Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

ALAMANCE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL OFFER COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN THE MAIN HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUILDING

What: If your last COVID-19 vaccine was before September 2022, you are due for an updated dose

Why: COVID-19 vaccinations are now a part of regularly-offered immunizations and vaccinations

Where: Alamance County Health Department will move COVID-19 vaccination administration from the Vaccinate Alamance building to the main Health Department on the 1^st floor of the Human Services Campus, located at 319 N. Graham-Hopedale Road in Burlington

When: Beginning March 1, 2023

 Individuals should continue to visit VaccinateAlamance.com or call (336) 290-0650 to schedule an appointment.

The Alamance County Health Department will be hosting a drive-thru rabies vaccination clinic on December 3 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Health Department, located at 319 N. Graham-Hopedale Road in Burlington. All vehicles should enter from McKinney Street to Rudd Street.

The cost of the rabies shot at the clinic will be $5.00 per pet. Cash only. The vaccination clinic will be a drive-thru clinic with all owners staying in their cars. Dogs will be vaccinated in the cars and cats MUST be in carriers that health personnel may take them into the building to be vaccinated.

To date, there has been one confirmed case of rabies in 2022 for Alamance County. In 2021, there were four confirmed rabies cases in the county. For more information or questions about rabies control, vaccination requirements, or upcoming clinics, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

What: Alamance County Health Department will begin administration of Moderna and Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 booster shots

 When: Mondays and Fridays beginning Friday, September 9, 2022

 Where: 319 N Graham Hopedale Rd., Suite E, Burlington, NC.

Who’s Eligible:  You can get a bivalent booster if you are 12 years of age or older and it has been at least 2 months since your last dose of your primary series or booster.

Individuals are encouraged to visit VaccinateAlamance.com or call (336) 290-0650 to schedule an appointment

On August 18, Alamance County Health Department received notification of its first positive case of monkeypox. The affected individual is currently in isolation at home. To protect the individual’s privacy, no further information about them will be released. Alamance County Health Department is working to identify any close contacts. A close contact is defined as anyone who has sustained close personal physical contact with an infected person.  

According to the CDC, monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox. Symptoms can include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes, as well as a rash that looks like pimples, blisters, or scabs. The rash may be painful or itchy. Symptoms are typically seen within three weeks of exposure, and the illness lasts two to four weeks.

“We have prepared for the potential of monkeypox cases in Alamance County. Our public health response team has been in contact with the affected individual and that person is complying with all necessary control measures and cleaning guidelines,” said Alamance County Health Director Tony Lo Giudice.

The Health Department urges individuals to take the following standard precautions, as directed by the CDC, to help protect themselves and others from this virus:

1. Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.

• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.

2. Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.

• Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.

3. Wash your hands often.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.

Alamance County residents are encouraged to use reputable sources of information to learn more about monkeypox, such as the CDC or NC DHHS. Residents are also encouraged to contact their health care provider if they have any unexplained rash, sores, or other symptoms that could possibly be related to monkeypox.