NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Nancy Niehus, (440) 350-2543
October 10, 2011 LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT
THREE ADDITIONAL RABID SKUNKS REPORTED IN 2011 IN LAKE COUNTY
The Ohio Department of Health and USDA Wildlife Services have confirmed that 3 Lake County skunks have recently tested positive for rabies. These skunks were collected and tested between September 28 and October 3, 2011. Positive skunks were found in Painesville, Mentor-on-the-Lake and Mentor. A total of three dogs were potentially exposed to the rabid skunks, and they were all current on their rabies vaccines. The dogs will undergo a 45 day quarantine for observation.
A total of five skunks have been found with rabies in Lake County in 2011. Like other rabid skunks in Lake County in the past, this skunk is believed to have been infected with raccoon strain rabies (RSR) and is part of the wider raccoon rabies epidemic in Lake County since 2004. With the addition of these three skunks, 10 RSR animals have been found in NE Ohio in 2011, the 18th since 2008 and the 141st since the outbreak began in 2004. Additional rabid raccoons in 2011 have been found in Ashtabula (3), Mahoning (1) and Trumbull (1) counties, all near the Pennsylvania border. Lake County has not had as many RSR total animals since 2008 when we had four positive raccoons and three positive skunks. Lake County has not had this many positive skunks since 2007 when nine positive skunks were found. In 2011, almost 7% (five out of 72) of all Lake County skunks tested have been found to be rabid.
Residents are reminded of the AVC’s of rabies prevention to stay healthy:
- Avoid contact with wild, sick or injured animals and animals you don’t know. Any pet or human encounter with skunks, bats, raccoons, fox or coyotes should be reported to the Lake County General Health District (LCGHD) to determine if a possible rabies exposure has happened. If there is any chance that there was an exposure to rabies, the animal should be safely captured so that it can be tested for rabies, if possible. Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they look friendly. "Love your own, leave other animals alone" is a good principle for children to learn.
- Vaccinate your pets against rabies. Rabies vaccination of all pet cats, dogs and ferrets is the law in Lake County. This requirement also applies to indoor pets because, an animal that could have rabies (especially bats) may get into the house. It is important for pet owners to have their pets regularly vaccinated against rabies and always keep the shots up-to-date. Vaccinating pets against rabies protects the pet and family members against the threat of this disease that is almost always deadly.
- Call your doctor or veterinarian if you or your pets are bitten.
Your local health departments in northeast Ohio are working hard to protect you against rabies by distributing rabies vaccine for raccoons to eat, but the vaccine does not work in skunks. A new vaccine is currently being developed and it is hoped it will be available for use next year. There has also been a very effective trap, vaccinate, and release program that immunizes raccoons against rabies in target areas. Citizens can help by contacting the LCGHD at (440) 350-2543 to report dead or sick animals and animals with odd behavior. Pet owners are also cautioned to use care when letting dogs or cats outside in the evening. Put on a light if possible, and then check for skunks or other wild animals, even inside fenced-in areas before allowing animals to go out.
For additional information on raccoon rabies please visit:
http://www.lcghd.org/rabies.aspx
http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/dis/zoonoses/rabies/rab1.aspx
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/
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