Rabies in Bears: A Rare but Serious Threat
Confirming the First Case in North Carolina
In a startling discovery, the first case of rabies in a black bear has been confirmed in North Carolina's history. Only four previous cases of rabies in wild black bears have been documented.
A Rare Occurrence
Rabies, a deadly virus, can infect all mammals. However, its occurrence in bears is extremely rare. The North Carolina Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) seized the opportunity to sequence the entire genome of the virus after detecting this positive case in a black bear.
Global Incidents
Beyond North Carolina, there have been isolated cases of rabies in bears. In 2014, a brown bear infected with rabies attacked an individual in Russia's Primorsky Krai region.
Understanding Human-Bear Conflicts
Human conflicts with bears are on the rise nationwide. This study examines the profile of victims and the pattern of injuries sustained in such encounters.
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