Charlotte’s first confirmed rabies case was just detected in the Mint Hill area.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control said the infected raccoon was located near Mintbrook Drive in the 28227 zip code. Officials confirmed no human exposure, though one domestic pet came into contact with the rabid animal.
A countywide rabies alert was scheduled to be issued to residents near the area at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Mecklenburg County Health Department is coordinating the response.
Last year, our county saw a total of 14 rabies cases, with Charlotte’s Wildwood, Hickory Ridge, and Mint Hill areas having had the most repeated rabies cases every year since 2020. Officials urged pet owners to ensure rabies vaccinations are current. North Carolina law requires dogs, cats, and ferrets to be vaccinated by four months of age and kept up to date.
To help keep pets protected, Mecklenburg hosts free rabies vaccination clinics on the second Saturday of each month at the Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center on Beam Road. The clinic runs from 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., and pet owners must bring a valid ID to receive the free one-year vaccine.
For questions about potential human exposures, residents can call 980-314-9198.
