Rabid skunk invades residence; two victims receiving treatment

Gene Wells and another man, who wished to remain unidentified, recently had a close encounter with a rabid skunk at the Wells home on Lakeside Drive in Lincoln County.

According to Michael Standiford, environmental health specialist with the Lincoln County Health Department, "The skunk came onto the premises about 9 p.m. When Wells and his wife approached the sliding glass door to get a better look, the skunk began spraying around the door. At about 12:30 or 1 a.m., a family member was letting the dog out when the skunk came inside the house. During attempts to catch the animal, it bit the unidentified man three times and scratched Wells.

"At 3 a.m., they finally trapped the skunk under a bucket and took it outside and shot it several times because it continued to try to climb out of the bucket. The animal was sent off for testing, and the health department received notification on April 21 that it was positive for rabies."

Both of the adults are currently being treated for the disease.

The family dog was also exposed to the skunk. "There was no evidence that the skunk had bitten or scratched the dog, but it's hard to tell with a dog," noted Standiford. "Fortunately, the dog had a current rabies shot, so Dr. McLeod (Greg) had to do was give it a booster as a precaution."

The dog will remain under observation for the next 45 days.

An infected animal carries the rabies virus in its saliva and can transmit it to a person through biting. In rarer cases, an animal can spread the virus when its saliva comes in contact with a person's mucous membranes or broken skin such as a cut, scratch, bruise, or open wound.

Although the virus cannot live outside its host's body for more than a few seconds, the live virus has been found in animals that have been dead as long as 48 hours.

Approximately 7,000 cases of rabies in animals are reported each year to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Raccoons are the most common carrier of rabies in the United States, but bats are most likely to infect people. Almost three quarters of rabies cases between 1990 and 2001 came from contact with bats.

In order to avoid exposure to rabies, Standiford advised people to stay away from wild animals, including stray dogs and cats, that:

..Are not afraid of human beings. .. Are wandering around in the daytime when they are nocturnal by nature.

.. Are behaving peculiarly. They may be stumbling, shaking, and/or lethargic.

.. Are abnormally aggressive.

The environmental health specialist further encouraged local residents to make sure their pets remain in a fenced-in area and have a current rabies vaccination. "Georgia Law requires that owners have both pets and livestock vaccinated for rabies. If a dog is not current with his shots and he is exposed to rabies, it is recommended that he be euthanized immediately."

The only alternative is isolation.

"People generally don't have the money or the facilities needed to put an exposed animal in strict isolation for six months," Standiford explained. "Even if he is vaccinated while in isolation, it's no guarantee he will not develop rabies.

"The bottom line is if you love your pets, keep them vaccinated."

Anyone observing a wild animal acting strangely is asked to call the Lincoln County Health Department at 706-359-3154 or the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office at 706-359-7320.