Officials: Skunk Tests Positive For Rabies In Camden County

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J., (CBS) -- The Camden County Health Department has been notified by the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services that a skunk removed from a Winslow Township yard has tested positive for rabies, according to officials.

Officials say on July 20, a skunk entered the yard of a home in Winslow Township in daylight and attacked the family dog.  The skunk was picked up by the Animal Control Officer for Winslow and was submitted for rabies testing, according to officials.  They say there was no human exposure.

On July 24, officials say the Camden County Health Department was notified by the NJDHSS that the animal was rabid.  The dog is current with its rabies vaccination and will receive a rabies booster shot, according to officials.  In addition, officials say state regulations dictate that the dog be confined and observed for 45 days from the date of the incident.  Officials say the NJDHSS has not provided the name or address of the family.

"Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment," said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department in a news release.  "If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention."

In the news release, Rodriguez urged county residents to observe a few simple rules, including acting responsibly as a pet owner:

1. Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets.
2. Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals.  If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
3. Contact your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood.  They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

In the news release, Rodriguez said it's also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

1. Enjoy wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes from afar.  Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or liter.
2. Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.  Do not try to nurse sick animals to health.  Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
3. Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they seem friendly.
4. Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people or pets.
5. When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries.  Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  Tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year in these countries.

Rodriguez said interested residents can learn more about rabies through the internet by accessing the information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/ or, residents may call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 856-374-6370.