LEICESTER, N.C. (AP)--Eight western North Carolina residents are undergoing the series of five rabies vaccinations because they may have had contact with two cows that died from the illness in late January.

A state lab confirmed Jan. 28 that the cows, who died Jan. 25, had rabies.

While rabies is fairly common in the mountains--Buncombe County recorded 21 cases last year, including 18 in raccoons--it's unusual for it to appear in cattle.

A search of state records since 1960 showed only two cases of rabies in cows in Buncombe County. In 2004, North Carolina recorded four cases of rabies in cattle, two in Iredell County and one each in Davidson and Wilkes counties.

"It's probably been 20 years or more since we've had a case in cattle," said Steve Duckett, a livestock specialist with the Buncombe County office of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service.

He said most farmers don't vaccinate cattle for rabies because it's expensive and the disease is relatively rare in cows.

Among those undergoing the vaccinations is Peggy Felmet, who cares for the cows with her grandson, Josh Clifton.

"My father ran a dairy here, and I've been around this all my life, and this is the first I've ever heard of it," Felmet said. They did put us under a quarantine. I can't sell or bring in any (cattle) for eight months."

Felmet's daughter, Anita Clifton, said she, her mother, Josh and Josh's stepfather, Mike King, all are undergoing the series of five rabies vaccination shots that prevent the onset of illness. Four other people who came in contact with the rabid cows also will have to undergo the shots.

Officials suspect the cattle most likely were bitten by a rabid animal, possibly a raccoon, although coyotes, foxes and other wild animals carry rabies.

"My brother-in-law did see raccoons when he was feeding them," Felmet said. "He said he was far away--too far away to shoot--and that they were in with the cattle."

Josh Clifton, a 16-year-old student at Erwin High, said the two sick cows did not become aggressive or try to bite, common symptoms in other rabid animals.

"They were kind of acting funny," Clifton said. "When you're around cattle a lot, you know when they're not acting right."

Felmet has seen no signs of rabies in her other cattle, and veterinarians said transmission to other cows, or people, is very unlikely.

Date: 2/24/05

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