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4 timesequenceof thespread of the epidemics depict- ing 1990, 1993,and 1995,respectively.The con- tinuing and rapid spread of the disease across the state is noticeable.The maps do not depict counties that have experienced isolated cases of rabies not due to a natural extension of the epidemics. Three distinct epidemics of wild animal rabies L have entered the state,and two have shown a strong tendency to spreadquickly from theirpointof entry. ' The Southeastern Raccoon Rabies Epidemic origi- nated in Florida during the 1950s.The reasons for its movement are not completely clear,but we do know that the epidemic spread from Florida into =_rabies epidemic: 1990 Alabama, Georgia,and South Carolina. It moved into two separate regions figure 2)of southeastern and south-central North Carolina over a two-year period Those two regions have now converged into a rough triangle including Gaston County (south- west), Harnett County (north), and Brunswick County (southeast) (Figure 3). Northern Georgia i has experienced rabies in its raccoon population as part of the same epidemic, and extension from northern Georgia into western North Carolina is very possible. A second epidemic(the Mid-Atlantic Raccoon Epidemic) originated in Virginia as a result of human action: the translocation of wild raccoons from the Southeast into West Virginia and Virginia y rabies epidemic: 1993 during the late 19 70s. The infection has spread south into North Carolina,west into Ohio,and north and east into Pennsylvania,New Jersey,New York, and New England. In North Carolina, rabid rac- coons are now found in a roughly rectangularregion ____ from Granville County(northwest),northern Harnett _ County(southwest),Beaufort County(southeast), and Currituck County(northeast)(Figure 3)• A third epidemic of rabies originated in skunks in Canada and spread through the midwestern states ---- into Tennessee,southwestern Virginia,and north- western North Carolina. This Midwestern Skunk Epidemic rmwaffects WataugaandAlleghanycoun- ties(Figure 3). -:hies _tide-nic: 1995 Rabies Control Measures As more counties experience epidemic rabies,the Figs 1-3 (top to bottom): North Carolina counties affected by rabies -- risks to citizens increase and the costs of trying to epidemics during 1990(top), 1993(middle), and 1995 (bottom). control the disease and treat people exposed to the virus increase. Financial aspects include medical costs for increased approximately 60%in two counties that experienced people or pets exposed to the disease; pre-exposure rabies a rabies epidemic.Most of the increased costs were borne by the vaccination of animal control officers,veterinarians and wild- private sector,primarily in the form of rabies vaccination for life rehabilitators;vaccination of dogs and cats to prevent the pets.' disease;and county government funds for animal control.The Controlling the spreadof rabies inawildanima!population state of New Jersey estimated that the cost of rabies control is a complex problem, and few have been successful. The NCS11/lan"ary 1996,Volwne S7 Nwnber 1 15