The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is asking citizens of Independence County to be aware of recent cases of rabid skunks.
Skunks are generally solitary animals, and in each of the cases, the animals were out during the daytime and acting strangely.
They have not been afraid of dogs or people and may try to enter fenced yards or even homes.
Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the brain and nerves in humans and other mammals. It can be contracted through a bite or saliva from an infected animal.
In Arkansas, the animals that most often carry rabies are skunks and bats, but any mammal can become infected by one of these species. Animals do not have to be aggressive or act erratically to have rabies. Changes in any animal’s normal behaviors can be an early sign of rabies.
It’s important to keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations, especially those that live outside. If you think a pet has been exposed to a rabid animal, contact your veterinarian to arrange for monitoring and additional vaccinations if needed.
Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to the nearest ADH health unit and report abnormal animal behavior to animal control or law enforcement. If it can be done safely, capture or confine the animal or identify it before it runs away. Do not try to pick the animal up. Depending on the species, an animal can be observed or tested for rabies in order to avoid the need for rabies treatment for the exposed person. A potential rabies exposure should never be taken lightly. If untreated, rabies is fatal.
The human rabies vaccine, administered after possible exposure, is highly effective at preventing the progression to rabies disease. However, once an infected person develops symptoms of rabies, there is no effective treatment, and the infected person will most likely die. Timely reporting of animal bites allows public health experts to offer recommendations on the need for rabies vaccinations.
Click here for more information on rabies from the ADH.
Featured image: National Park Service
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
