The Pamlico County Animal Control has confirmed two cases of animals testing positive for rabies.

Officials said the animals were a fox found on North 3rd Street in Bayboro and a skunk located at the end of Ireland Road in Alliance.

According to a release, over the last 60 days, there have been a total of four animals in the Bayboro-Alliance area, including the two described above that have tested positive for rabies.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.

The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of many other illnesses, including fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort.

As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (increase in saliva), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water).

Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.

For more information, visit the Center for Disease Control Website at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/transmission/virus.html.

If you are concerned about possible rabies exposure, contact your primary health care provider immediately.

If your pet is bitten or you suspect the pet has been exposed to rabies, contact your veterinarian.