Second skunk found with rabies

SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Animal Control and Shelter announced on Friday that a second skunk with rabies was found in Smith County recently. Friday’s report of a second rabies-positive skunk from Smith County follows a similar report from earlier in July where a skunk was found dead with rabies. Smith County hasn’t shared exactly where the second skunk was found but they did say it was almost on the opposite side of the county from the first skunk, which was found in southeast Smith County.

According to a paper in the American Veterinary Medical Association’s journal, the Texas Department of State Health Services has developed policies for how to handle both vaccinated and unvaccinated animals that have been exposed to rabies.

Animals vaccinated against rabies are either given an immediate booster and confined in isolation for 45 days to see if they develop rabies symptoms or they’re euthanised. Unvaccinated animals are given a postexposure prophylaxis vaccine and confined for 90 days before getting booster vaccines at three and eight weeks of confinement or they’re euthanized.

If humans contract rabies from an animal’s bite or saliva, the condition is fatal if they don’t get treatment as soon as possible. Smith County officials have reminded residents to follow these steps to help prevent the spread of rabies:

• Keep dogs, cats, and ferrets current on their rabies vaccinations.
• Do not allow pets to interact with wildlife, whether the animal is alive or deceased.
• Avoid handling wild animals whenever possible.
• If a person or pet has been bitten, scratched, or has had direct contact with a wild mammal that could carry rabies, contact Smith County Animal Control as soon as possible so the incident can be evaluated.
• Promptly report potential exposures to allow public health officials and veterinarians to determine the appropriate course of action and helps protect both people and animals.

Smith County Animal Control and Shelter said they will continue to investigate potential exposures to rabies and they ask that residents keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations.