Health Department Reports Rabid Skunk
Found Near Crane
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May 24, 2018
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Isaac Estes-Jones
The Stone County Health Department reports that a case of rabies has been identified for the first time in several years. A skunk found in the Crane area tested positive for the disease Monday, May 21.
The Stone County Health Department released information about a rabid skunk found in near Crane last week. “The Stone County Health Department has confirmed that a skunk in Stone County has tested positive for rabies,” the press release said.
“The skunk was submitted for testing after it was found at a home in the Crane, Missouri area. Rabies in wild animals is on the increase in this area,” the release further states. “We are entering the time of year when more people are bitten and otherwise injured by animals as a result of increased outdoor activity,” the release said. Rabies is one of many diseases and injuries that can happen from encounters with wild animals.
“We were notified by an area vet on Friday the 18th that an animal needed to be tested” said Pam Burnett, Administrator of the Stone County Health Department. An area family reportedly brought the skunk in after finding it at their home.
The veterinarian removes the head of the animal in order for the test to be done at the state lab. “After the vet removes the head, we submit it to the state lab for testing,” Burnett said, adding “We got the notification on Monday afternoon that it had tested positive for rabies.”
“This is the first case of rabies since I don’t remember when,” Burnett said. “But, we do know that northern Arkansas had reported cases, as did the counties north of us.”
“Rabies is spread through the saliva and scratches from infected animals. So, our recommendation, as always is to vaccinate your pets and animals as advised by your vet,” Burnett said. “It’s a reminder that you need to keep pets vaccinated and just watch where your pets are going: don’t let them run wild in the woods. That way you can keep an eye on them. If animal has had up to date vaccinations, should not have to worry about rabies.”
Human rabies cases in the United States are not as common as they once were, thanks to modern vaccinations for dogs and cats, improved public health and animal control practices, and a more effective series of anti-rabies shots for persons bitten. However, the risk of rabies remains a potential health threat in Missouri, and persons bitten by a potentially rabid animal should seek medical evaluation immediately.
According to Burnett, anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal, particularly a stray dog or cat or a wild animal, should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes. If possible, and without further injury, try to capture or confine the biting animal so that it can be quarantined or tested for rabies (depending upon the species of animal). If the animal is destroyed, avoid damaging the head since the brain is the only specimen that can be tested for the presence of the rabies virus. Persons should contact their physician to see if medical care (antibiotics, tetanus booster, etc.) is needed, and to have a rabies risk assessment made. They should also contact their local public health agency to seek assistance in obtaining proper disposition of the biting animal.
“Over 90% of reported rabies cases in the United States are wild animals commonly seen in neighborhoods and backyards, such as bats and skunks,” the press release says. But, pets can be an important barrier to a rabies infection, as long as those pets have recent rabies vaccinations.
“Pet owners need to understand how close the threat of rabies is to their families,” said Rosa Moore, Communicable Disease RN at Stone County Health Department. “It’s often as close as the skunk that walked through the back yard.”
“There aren’t too many other communicable diseases to worry about if you are bit by a wild animal,” Burnett said. “But we encourage people to go to their physicians if bitten to see if need antibiotics or tetanus booster. The human treatment for rabies isn’t as bad as it once was, but it’s still expensive and painful.”
The Health Department also offered the following tips to help prevent rabies infections.
The Stone County Health Department reports that a case of rabies has been identified for the first time in several years. A skunk found in the Crane area tested positive for the disease Monday, May 21.
The Stone County Health Department released information about a rabid skunk found in near Crane last week. “The Stone County Health Department has confirmed that a skunk in Stone County has tested positive for rabies,” the press release said.
“The skunk was submitted for testing after it was found at a home in the Crane, Missouri area. Rabies in wild animals is on the increase in this area,” the release further states. “We are entering the time of year when more people are bitten and otherwise injured by animals as a result of increased outdoor activity,” the release said. Rabies is one of many diseases and injuries that can happen from encounters with wild animals.
“We were notified by an area vet on Friday the 18th that an animal needed to be tested” said Pam Burnett, Administrator of the Stone County Health Department. An area family reportedly brought the skunk in after finding it at their home.
The veterinarian removes the head of the animal in order for the test to be done at the state lab. “After the vet removes the head, we submit it to the state lab for testing,” Burnett said, adding “We got the notification on Monday afternoon that it had tested positive for rabies.”
“This is the first case of rabies since I don’t remember when,” Burnett said. “But, we do know that northern Arkansas had reported cases, as did the counties north of us.”
“Rabies is spread through the saliva and scratches from infected animals. So, our recommendation, as always is to vaccinate your pets and animals as advised by your vet,” Burnett said. “It’s a reminder that you need to keep pets vaccinated and just watch where your pets are going: don’t let them run wild in the woods. That way you can keep an eye on them. If animal has had up to date vaccinations, should not have to worry about rabies.”
Human rabies cases in the United States are not as common as they once were, thanks to modern vaccinations for dogs and cats, improved public health and animal control practices, and a more effective series of anti-rabies shots for persons bitten. However, the risk of rabies remains a potential health threat in Missouri, and persons bitten by a potentially rabid animal should seek medical evaluation immediately.
According to Burnett, anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal, particularly a stray dog or cat or a wild animal, should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes. If possible, and without further injury, try to capture or confine the biting animal so that it can be quarantined or tested for rabies (depending upon the species of animal). If the animal is destroyed, avoid damaging the head since the brain is the only specimen that can be tested for the presence of the rabies virus. Persons should contact their physician to see if medical care (antibiotics, tetanus booster, etc.) is needed, and to have a rabies risk assessment made. They should also contact their local public health agency to seek assistance in obtaining proper disposition of the biting animal.
“Over 90% of reported rabies cases in the United States are wild animals commonly seen in neighborhoods and backyards, such as bats and skunks,” the press release says. But, pets can be an important barrier to a rabies infection, as long as those pets have recent rabies vaccinations.
“Pet owners need to understand how close the threat of rabies is to their families,” said Rosa Moore, Communicable Disease RN at Stone County Health Department. “It’s often as close as the skunk that walked through the back yard.”
“There aren’t too many other communicable diseases to worry about if you are bit by a wild animal,” Burnett said. “But we encourage people to go to their physicians if bitten to see if need antibiotics or tetanus booster. The human treatment for rabies isn’t as bad as it once was, but it’s still expensive and painful.”
The Health Department also offered the following tips to help prevent rabies infections.
- Avoid contact with wild animals. Do not handle, feed, or otherwise interact with wild animals, especially if they are acting strangely.
- Ensure dogs, cats, and ferrets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations. Vaccinations are also available for horses, cattle, and sheep. The effectiveness of animal vaccines is the main reason for the nationwide decline in rabies cases among people and domestic animals.
- Keep pets under control; do not allow them to run loose.
- Avoid contact with stray pets and wild animals; do not keep wild animals or wild animal crosses as pets.
- Personal pets should not be handled without protection directly after being exposed to wildlife due to the potential for carrying residual saliva from the infected animal.