BOLIVIA, N.C. (Press Release) — Animal Control Officers with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Animal Protective Services Unit are advising the community to ensure their dogs and puppies are up to date on the distemper virus vaccine.
Over a dozen wild animals (foxes and raccoons), predominately in the areas of the county south of Supply (Holden Beach, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach) were tested by biologists with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and found to be positive for the Distemper Virus. Reports of animals behaving strangely prompted BCSAPS to request testing by NC Wildlife.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), canine distemper is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of puppies and dogs. It is usually spread by the secretions from an infected animal’s cough or sneeze. The virus also infects wild canids (e.g. foxes, wolves, coyotes), raccoons, skunks, and ferrets, and these animals can be sources of infection for pet dogs.
Distemper is often fatal. Even if a dog does not die from the disease, canine distemper virus can cause irreparable damage to a dog’s nervous system.
More information can be found at https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Canine-Distemper.aspx.
