Guilford County Confirms Fifth Animal Rabies Case After Skunk Test

A skunk found near N.C. 61 South in the Whitsett area tested positive for rabies on Jan. 30, county public health officials said, marking the fifth confirmed animal rabies case in Guilford County so far in 2026. Burlington-area outlets described the Whitsett skunk as the third case reported in the eastern portion of the county near Burlington.

The county’s sequence of cases this month began with a feral cat identified as the first confirmed rabies case of 2026, followed by a raccoon on Spencer-Dixon Road in Greensboro and a skunk on Brotherstwo Road in Colfax, which local reporting described as the county’s second and third cases. On Jan. 22 a raccoon on Huffine Ridge Drive in Gibsonville tested positive, and the Jan. 30 Whitsett skunk was announced as the fifth. Guilford County had eight rabies cases in 2025.

Public health officials are urging residents to take routine precautions to reduce the risk of exposure. The Guilford County Division of Public Health reminded residents that "North Carolina law requires that all domestic pets (cats, dogs and ferrets), whether living inside or outside, aged four months or older be vaccinated for rabies." The county also advised that "animals that are confined in outdoor fenced areas should also have current rabies vaccinations" and that "supervising pets when they are outdoors could prevent contact with wild animals and lessen the possibility of rabies exposure."

County guidance underscores that "Rabies circulates within our wildlife population throughout the entire year," reinforcing earlier advice from Guilford County Animal Services staff. Dr. Adeline Noger, chief veterinarian and medical director for Guilford County Animal Services, noted that the feral-cat case involved animals from "an area with a known colony of feral cats. That’s a group of feral cats living kind of in the woods on their own, not owned by anyone." Dr. Noger added that "making sure that your cat is up to date on their rabies vaccination is vitally important." Local officials have also said low-cost and at-home vaccination options are available for Guilford County residents.

The immediate public-health implication is straightforward: pet owners should confirm rabies vaccinations and supervise animals outdoors, especially in neighborhoods near Whitsett, Gibsonville, Colfax and Greensboro where positive tests have been reported. Residents who see wildlife acting strangely, or who are bitten or scratched by a wild or unvaccinated animal, should report the incident to Animal Control and seek guidance from a veterinarian or health official.

For more information or to report a suspicious animal, contact Guilford County Animal Services at 336-641-2506. For details about the current case, contact Jorge Ortega at 336-641-3409 or jortega1@guilfordcountync.gov. As the county compiles cases and monitors wildlife, vaccination and vigilance remain the most reliable defenses for pets and people; expect continued updates from public health and animal services as they investigate and respond.