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CLARK COUNTY, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Health is warning Hoosiers after rabid skunks were found in southern Indiana.
According to a press release, IDOH is urging Indiana residents to vaccinate their pets against rabies and keep a safe distance from wildlife because skunk rabies was detected in Clark and Washington Counties.
IDOH officials indicated that skunk rabies is typically present in northern Kentucky, but not southern Indiana. The Hoosier State has not had a confirmed case of skunk rabies since 2004.
No human infections were suspected as of Feb. 9. IDOH is working to determine if there are any other Indiana counties affected by skunk rabies.
Hoosiers can report sick or dead skunks to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife Health Program here.
IDOH officials are encouraging Indiana residents to stay away from skunks or other wild animals, even if they appear healthy.
Here are some additional tips provided by the IDOH to keep Hoosiers and their pets safe:
- Vaccinate dogs, cats and ferrets for rabies
- Keep cats and ferrets indoors and dogs on a leash or under direct supervision
- Spay or neuter pets to help reduce the number of stray animals in the community
- Contact animal control or law enforcement to remove stray animals from your neighborhood
A release from IDOH indicates it isn’t always possible to tell if an animal has rabies just by looking at it. Animals with rabies commonly act strangely, aggressive, shy or look dull. Some animals with rabies try to bite other animals or become unresponsive. IDOH officials reported that animals with rabies also tend to drool, though that isn’t always the case.
IDOH’s press release reported that untreated rabies infections in people almost always result in death. Rabies can be treated with prompt care after a bite.
IDOH encourages those that have been exposed to rabies to contact their healthcare provider. Hoosiers that suspect their pets or livestock have rabies should contact a veterinarian immediately.
Rabies is a viral infection primarily spread in saliva through the bite of an infected animal. The virus is not spread through blood, urine feces or skunk spray.
Per IDOH, rabies is typically found in wild animals like skunks, bats, raccoons and foxes. While skunk rabies is relatively rare in Indiana, bats throughout the state often carry the disease.
More information on rabies is available here.
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