USDA APHIS Wildlife Services to Conduct Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) Bait Drop in North Carolina

 

PRESS RELEASE (03-19-2025)
MACON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

March 19, 2025 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) Wildlife Services will conduct its annual Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) program in North Carolina to help control the spread of rabies in wildlife. The 2025 ORV baiting activities will occur from April 1-20, 2025, across multiple counties, with specific distribution methods based on location. ORV Baiting Schedule and Methods:

• Fixed-Wing Aircraft: Raboral V-RG coated sachets will be distributed in rural areas via aircraft between April 1-20, 2025 in Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Macon, Clay, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Transylvania, Jackson, Swain, Graham, Cherokee, and Watauga counties. 

• Helicopter Distribution: Raboral V-RG fishmeal polymer baits will be dropped in urban areas of Asheville, Burnsville, Mars Hill, and Waynesville between April 9-11, 2025. 

• Ground Distribution: Hand baiting via ground vehicles will take place in Asheville city limits from April 3-8, 2025.

These baits contain an oral rabies vaccine designed to immunize raccoons and other wildlife against rabies, helping to reduce the risk of transmission to domestic animals and humans. Important Public Information:

• The vaccine baits are safe for pets and wildlife; however, pet owners should avoid contact with the baits if possible. 

• If a pet eats a bait, there is no cause for concern, but excessive consumption should be avoided. 

• If a bait is found, leave it undisturbed. If necessary, it can be moved to a wooded area using gloves or a plastic bag.

The ORV program is an essential part of rabies control efforts to protect public health and prevent the spread of the disease. Community members with questions, comments, or concerns about the program can contact Jennifer Germain at 828-349-2084.

For more information, please visit maconnc.org.

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Macon County Public Health to Host Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic

PRESS RELEASE (09-17-2024)
MACON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

Macon County Public Health to Host Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic

Franklin, NC — Macon County Public Health is pleased to announce a Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic to be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The clinic will take place at the Macon County Public Health facility, located at 1830 Lakeside Drive, Franklin, NC 28734.

This convenient drive-thru clinic will offer flu vaccinations to residents of all ages, providing an easy way to protect yourself and your loved ones against the flu this season.

• Standard Flu Vaccine Cost: $38.00 (for individuals aged 6 months and older)
• High-Dose Flu Vaccine Cost: $84.00 (for individuals aged 65 years and older)

We encourage attendees to bring their insurance cards if they plan to file insurance. Payments can be made in cash or by check, payable to Macon County Public Health.

Getting vaccinated is more important than ever to protect our community's health. Don't miss this opportunity to safeguard yourself and those around you from the flu.

For more information, please contact Macon County Public Health at 828-349-2081.

About Macon County Public Health:
Macon County Public Health is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of all residents in our community. Through various services and programs, we strive to ensure a healthier and safer environment for everyone.

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Weather Briefing for Friday, March 5, 2021

OUTLOOK

Dry high pressure will set up through our area through today before a Gulf Coast low pressure system passes mostly south of the region Friday night into Saturday, with minimal chance for rainfall. Canadian high pressure builds back into the area Sunday, maintaining warm, dry conditions through the middle of next week. Relative humidities will fall below 30% in most of the county this afternoon, so please be mindful of burning outdoors today. Make sure you have an adequate fireline and water ready if you decide you can't put it off for a few days.


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News Highlights

Macon County Public Health Moves into Group 3 Vaccination Appointments

Under the direction of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Macon County Public Health and other vaccine providers have begun to vaccinate individuals who qualify to receive the vaccine as frontline, essential workers. Macon County Public Health has worked through a majority of the existing waitlist, including those who are 65-years of age or older who previously qualified for their vaccine.

MCPH has continued to receive special event dosage from NC DHHS and will have a delivery of one-thousand-seven-hundred (1,700) next week. MCPH will have both the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines next week.

NC DHHS is defining frontline, essential workers as those who must be in-person at your place of work, in the following sectors: critical manufacturing, education (including college and university staff), essential goods (including workers at any store that sells groceries or medicine), food and agriculture (including restaurant workers), government and community services (including workers at non-profit organizations), public safety, transportation, and all remaining health care and public health workers.

You can learn more about who may qualify at: [https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines/find-your-spot- take-your-shot]

Individuals in Group 3 that want to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, must call Macon County’s Vaccine Call Center at 828-524-1500 to register and schedule an appointment. The Macon County Vaccine Call Center is open Monday – Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm.


• Barbara McRae, the Vice-Mayor of Franklin, has passed away after a long battle with cancer. [Facebook]

Local Rabies Clinics

• Macon County Public Health Reports 6th Rabid Animal Since December (3 skunks and 3 raccoons)



Macon County has identified an additional rabies-positive raccoon. A citizen reported a potentially rabid raccoon to Macon County Animal Services, the animal was then brought back to the shelter, euthanized, and sent for testing. There is no known exposure to this animal. The animal was picked up in the Cowee Township of the county.

While rabies is endemic to bats, skunks, and raccoons in North Carolina, the best prevention is the rabies vaccination. In light of recent rabies-positive animals, Macon County Animal Services will be sponsoring low-cost rabies vaccination clinics at local schools on March 27th and April 10th. More details can be found on Macon County Animal Services Facebook page. Macon County residents are encouraged to ensure that their animals are up-to-date on all vaccinations.

Macon County Animal Services Section Administrator, Dr. Villiard, said of the incident, “While rabies is endemic is skunks, raccoons and bats in North Carolina, the recent increase in the number of detected cases in Macon County does raise concern for our pets. We are actively coordinating with our local veterinarians to schedule low-cost rabies vaccine clinics, to make sure that the pets of Macon County are protected.”

Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system in humans and other mammals. A person may contract rabies through a bite, scratch, or saliva from an infected animal. Potential rabies exposure should never be taken lightly; left untreated, rabies is fatal.

Animals do not have to be aggressive or behaving erratically to have the rabies virus. Changes in any animal’s normal behavior can be early signs of rabies. Any exposure to these animals should be reported to Macon County Animal Services, so that the animal can be located and tested for rabies.

Macon County pet owners should also be sure to check their pet’s last rabies vaccination is up-to-date, to prevent a possible rabies infection.

In addition to keeping your pets vaccinated, pet owners should keep cats and ferrets indoors and keep dogs under direct supervision, by spaying or neutering their pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly, and call animal control to remove all stray animals from their neighborhood since these animals may be unvaccinated or ill.

Every day citizens should also be sure to prevent rabies in themselves by leaving wildlife alone, wash animal bites and scratches with soap and water, vaccinating pets, and contacting your healthcare provider immediately after you are bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed to an animal who may be positive for rabies. Rabies in people is preventable through prompt medical care.



• The latest local COVID-19 numbers, charts, and tables have been posted [LINK]

Recent Local Government Meetings

• Franklin Town Council - March 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]

• The Macon County Board of Commissioners -Special Called Meeting (02-26-2021) [LINK]

• Macon County Board of Education - February 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]

• Macon County Board of Commissioners - February 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]

• Franklin Town Council - February 2021 Regular Meeting [LINK]



• The latest local COVID-19 numbers, charts, and tables have been posted [LINK]

• Annual 4-H Plant Sales for 2021 Announced [LINK]



National Weather Map for Today

General forecast through Sunday Night


Franklin area

Today
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)


Sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with lows around 30. Winds out of the north 3 to 5 mph.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 50. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-20s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.

Sunday

Sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 50. Calm winds early increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning.

Sunday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-20s.

Highlands area
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)


Today

Sunny, with highs near 50. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s. Winds out of the north around 5 mph.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-20s. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday Night

Clear, with lows in the upper 20s.

Otto area
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)


Today

Sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Winds out of the north 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with lows around freezing. Winds out of the north around 5 mph.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 50. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-20s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.

Sunday

Sunny, with highs in the lower 50s. Calm winds early increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning.

Sunday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 20s.

Nantahala area
(Use caution if burning outdoors this afternoon)


Today

Mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 50s. Light and variable winds early increasing to come out of the north 5 to 10 mph by midmorning.

Tonigh

t Mostly cloudy, with lows around freezing. Winds out of the north 3 to 5 mph.

Saturday

Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with highs in the upper 40s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-20s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.

Sunday

Sunny, with highs in the upper 40s. Calm winds early increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph by midmorning.

Sunday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-20s.



HAZARDS

In general, hazardous weather is not excpected today. Relative humidities will fall below 30% in most of the county this afternoon, so please be mindful of burning outdoors today. Make sure you have an adequate fireline and water ready if you decide you can't put it off for a few days.





Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, including the ridges and other higher elevations today.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the medium-high range (9.1 out of 12) today with Alder, Juniper, and Elm being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be lower, in the medium range (6.9 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on March 5th


Highest Temperature 77°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1955
Lowest Temperature -1°F in Highlands in 1960
Greatest One-Day Rain 2.68 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2008
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 2.5 inches in Highlands in 1980

March Weather Extremes for Macon County

Highest Temperature 86°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 15, 1967
Lowest Temperature -7°F in Highlands on March 7, 1899
Greatest One-Day Rain 6.43 inches in Highlands on March 29, 1898
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on March 13, 1993 

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Published at 4:36am on Friday, March 05, 2021

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News and Weather Briefing for Tuesday, November 10, 2020

OUTLOOK

High pressure will move from the Mid-Atlantic coast to a position over the western Atlantic. This high will eventually help to direct a plume of tropical moisture in our direction for the middle part of the week ahead of a slow moving cold front. The front will slowly cross the forecast area Wednesday through early Friday, keeping the weather unsettled.


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General forecast through Thursday night


Today

A chance of rain or drizzle, mainly between 9am and noon, then a chance of rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with highs ranging from the lower 60s in the higher elevations to near 70 in the lower elevations. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Rain. Patchy fog after 9pm. Lows ranging from the mid-50s in the higher elevations to the lower 60s in the lower elevations. Calm winds in the early morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph by midmorning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Veterans Day

Showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs ranging from the mid-60s in the higher elevations to the low-to-mid 70s in the lower elevations. Light winds out of the southeast. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then showers likely. Lows ranging from the mid-50s in the higher elevations to near 60 in the lower elevations. Calm winds. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Thursday

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Mostly sunny, with highs ranging from the mid-to-upper 60s in the higher elevations to the low-to-mid 70s in the lower elevations.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows ranging from the mid-40s in the higher elevations to near 50 in the lower elevations.


HAZARDS

A deep fetch of tropical Atlantic moisture will arrive across the region by this evening and possibly persist through early Thursday. This setup may support heavy rainfall with isolated flash flooding of low lying areas including near streams and urban areas. The greatest threat for flooding is focused from the eastern slopes of the southern Appalachians eastward along and north of the I-85 corridor.

A second round of tropical moisture and with periods of heavy rain may arrive this weekend as the remnants of Eta pass to our east.

News Brief


An eighth person has died from COVID-19 in Macon County. According to a press release by the Macon County Health Department, the person was over 65 years of age. Kathy McGaha, the Health Director, emphasized the importance of the 3Ws during this pandemic. The 3Ws are: Wait six feet apart, Wash your hands frequently, and Wear a mask when around other people. This provides a firebreak for the virus and slows its spread and can save the live of the people who are most vulnerable to it.

Danny Reitmeier Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Franklin [LINK]

McKenzie Redoutey will be signing with LSU Softball at Cat Creek Lodge on 11/17/20 at 6:30pm. [LINK]

COVID-19 Briefing

Dr John Campbell: Vaccine, game changer



Read more at "Pfizer and Biontech Announce Vaccine Candidate against Covid-19 Achieved Success in First Interim Analysis from Phase 3 Study" [LINK]

TWiV 679: Mink, mutation, and myocytes
(Released November 5th)

Daniel Griffin provides a clinical report on COVID-19, Slovlakia's plan to test all adults for SARS-CoV-2 infection, viral variants arising in Danish mink and their potential threat to humans, why it is unethical to carry out challenge trials, Nipah virus dynamics in bats and spillovers into humans, and direct cardiac damage by spike-mediated cardiomyocyte fusion. Show notes at [LINK]



Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since May 30, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to Macon Media.

Cases

805 Detected
(+9 from Friday and +29 from last Monday and +110 in four weeks)

38 Active
(-4 from Friday and +6 from last Monday and +5 in four weeks)

759 Recovered
(+12 from Friday and +22 from last Monday and +104 in four weeks)

8 Deaths
(+1 from Friday and +1 from last Monday and +1 in four weeks)


Testing

6647 by MCPH
(+59 from Friday and +159 from last Monday and +679 in four weeks)

3307 by Others
(+127 from Friday and +221 from last Monday and +905 in four weeks)

9954 total
(+186 from Friday and +380 from last Monday and +1584 in four weeks)

87 tests pending results
(-52 from Friday and +1 from last Monday and +16 in four weeks)

Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green today for all elevations.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be low (0.1 out of 12) with ragweed being the main culprit. Tomorrow is expected to be lower (0.3 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County for November 9th

Highest Temperature 78°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2005
Lowest Temperature 15°F in Franklin in 1953
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.17 inches in Highlands in 1966 Greatest One-Day Snowfall 1.0 inches in Highlands in 1913

TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)



Tropical Tidbit from Levi Cowan (video recorded yesterday)

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
100 AM EST Tue Nov 10 2020

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Eta, located over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and on newly formed Subtropical Storm Theta, located over the eastern Atlantic.

1. A tropical wave located over the eastern Caribbean Sea is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This wave is expected to move westward into more conducive environmental conditions, and a tropical depression could form late this week or this weekend when the wave reaches the central or western Caribbean Sea.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...medium...60 percent.

Tropical Storm Eta Discussion Number 40
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL292020
300 AM CST Tue Nov 10 2020

There hasn't been a lot of change to the cloud pattern of Eta overnight, with the center apparently located on the northwestern side of a small central dense overcast. Scatterometer data from earlier indicated 35-40 kt winds, and with the typical undersampling from that instrument, along with consensus 45-kt estimates from TAFB/SAB, so Eta's initial wind speed is kept at 45 kt. A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft should be in the storm this morning.

Eta is forecast to be in a low-to-moderate shear environment over warm SSTs for the next couple of days. Gradual strengthening is expected through early Thursday, with the main restrictive factor being nearby dry air. After that time, increasing shear and drier mid-level air are likely to cause Eta to weaken. The rate of this weakening is pretty uncertain, and a lot depends on how much Eta can re-intensify over the next couple of days. The new forecast is similar to the previous one, which is quite close to the consensus guidance.

The storm has basically become stationary overnight. Eta should drift to north today due to steering flow changes with a nearby upper-level low losing influence while ridging east of Florida builds southward. A slow northward track is then anticipated for a couple of days over the east-central Gulf of Mexico in this flow pattern. Beyond that time, model guidance is in rather poor agreement, ranging from a stronger system moving faster to the northeast due to broad troughing over the south-central United States, to a weaker tropical cyclone getting caught under a narrow ridge over the Gulf of Mexico and turning west-southwestward. Since the new forecast expects Eta to be weakening, the NHC forecast will be west of the consensus and west of the previous track. I have little confidence in the long-range track forecast due to its seeming dependence on the intensity, and the wide spread in the guidance.

Key Messages:

1. Heavy rainfall from Eta will continue across western Cuba and South Florida today and tonight. Additional flash and urban flooding, especially across previously inundated areas, will be possible in South Florida. Flash and urban flooding will also be possible for western Cuba.

2. Eta could approach the Florida Gulf Coast later this week as a tropical storm, and possibly bring impacts from rain, wind, and storm surge. Interests in this area should continue to monitor the progress of Eta and updates to the forecast this week.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 10/0900Z 22.9N 85.5W 45 KT 50 MPH
12H 10/1800Z 23.1N 85.6W 50 KT 60 MPH
24H 11/0600Z 24.0N 85.6W 55 KT 65 MPH
36H 11/1800Z 25.0N 85.4W 60 KT 70 MPH
48H 12/0600Z 26.0N 85.3W 60 KT 70 MPH
60H 12/1800Z 26.8N 85.3W 50 KT 60 MPH
72H 13/0600Z 27.3N 85.4W 40 KT 45 MPH
96H 14/0600Z 28.8N 86.5W 35 KT 40 MPH
120H 15/0600Z 30.0N 87.0W 30 KT 35 MPH



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Published at 5:15am Tuesday, November 10, 2020