Gaston County, NC confirms second rabies case in a raccoon, stressing pet vaccinations.

In 2025, Gaston County, North Carolina, confirmed its second case of rabies, involving a raccoon killed by a family's vaccinated dogs in Gastonia. The raccoon tested positive for rabies after being sent to a public health laboratory. Authorities stressed the importance of keeping pets' rabies vaccinations current to protect both pets and the community.