Rabies Confirmed In Denver Skunk

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 10 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Following reports earlier this year of rabid skunks circulating in eastern counties of Colorado, the state lab at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed a rabid skunk in the vicinity of Sloan's Lake in Northwest Denver. According to epidemiologists at the state health department, this is the first rabid skunk found in the metro area since 1976.

Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals, resulting in a fatal disease. The virus is shed in the saliva of infected animals. People and animals get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal or contact with saliva from such an animal.

Testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that the skunk found near Sloan's Lake was infected with a bat strain of the rabies virus. "This probably means the infected animal found and ate a rabid bat," said John Pape, an epidemiologist with the state. "We occasionally find rabies cases in terrestrial animals that turn out to be infected with a bat strain of the rabies virus. These are usually isolated incidents with no further spread to other animals."

"This incident serves as a good reminder that you should keep pets currently vaccinated and take a few simple precautions to avoid contact with wildlife," Pape emphasized. Having pets vaccinated is the simplest and most effective way to protect pets and family members from this deadly disease. Pet owners are encouraged to contact their veterinarian and get their pets up to date on vaccinations.

As a precautionary measure, and to help residents ensure their pets are current on their vaccinations, Denver's Department of Environmental Health, Animal Care & Control is hosting a low cost pet vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 5, on the Southwest end of Sloan's Lake Park, near the intersection of 17th Avenue and Sheridan Blvd.

"We have a cooperative surveillance project with local health departments, animal control agencies and the Division of Wildlife to track the distribution of the disease," said Pape. "While this was found because of our increased surveillance for skunk rabies in eastern Colorado it is not related to that outbreak. However, we will increase monitoring of skunk populations in this area to insure the disease is not more widespread" explained Pape.

Pape said, "Skunks are highly efficient at transmitting rabies to other animals, much more so than bats."

Cases of bat rabies are reported statewide each year, but rarely result in spillover infection in other animals. To date in 2008, 89 skunks have been tested and 18 (20 percent) have been positive. Forty-two (14 percent) of 308 bats tested have been rabies positive. A rabid raccoon and cat also were reported this year in Kiowa County where skunk rabies is known to be circulating.

"People who suspect they or their family members have been in contact with a rabid skunk or any other rabid animal should consult with their physician. There is a vaccine that can be used to prevent rabies in humans who have been exposed to rabies from a wild animal," said Dave Cohn, M.D., associate director, Denver Public Health, and infectious disease physician.

Signs of rabies in animals include abnormal behavior such as nocturnal animals being active in the day, wild animals approaching humans or other animals, difficulty with walking or movement and unusual animal sounds such as excessive bellowing in cows or hissing/chirping in bats. Some animals with rabies will be very aggressive (furious rabies) while others may appear almost catatonic (dumb rabies).

Skunks and other wildlife should not be handled or fed. If a wild animal allows a person to approach and handle it, the animal is probably ill or injured and will bite in self-defense. A healthy animal usually will remain well hidden and avoid human contact. Suspected rabid animals should be reported immediately to local public health or animal control authorities.

The following precautions should be taken to prevent possible exposure to rabies:

- Do not feed wild animals - this just brings them closer to your family and reduces their natural fear of humans.
- Teach children to stay away from wild or dead animals.
- Do not allow pets to roam freely, as this increases the chance they may be exposed without your knowledge.
- Keep your pet's rabies vaccination current, and maintain vaccination records.
- Contact your veterinarian if your dog or cat is bitten or scratched by a wild animal.
- If a family member or pet has been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, if possible, safely contain the wild animal in case rabies testing is needed. People with possible rabies exposure should consult with a physician without delay.

For more information about the pet vaccination clinic taking place at Sloan's Lake Park, contact Denver Animal Care & Control by visiting http://www.denvergov.org/animalcare, or by calling 311. To report a suspected case of rabies, contact your local animal control agency or health department.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment