Skunk found in Lexington neighborhood tests positive for rabies. How to protect your pets
A skunk caught earlier this week by Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control has tested positive for rabies, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reported Friday.
The skunk was found on a property on Pleasant Grove Road, and the health department posted signs Friday to notify residents of the discovery.
“There does not appear to be any contact between neighborhood animals and the skunk, but officials ask that residents keep watch on their pets,” the Friday press release said.
Health department officials ask residents to keep their pets up-to-date on rabies vaccines.
Kentucky state law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age, with an additional vaccine due 12 months later. Lexington also has its own rabies vaccination and licensing requirements for pets that reside in the city.
The vaccines must be kept current, and Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control offers rabies vaccines for $10 plus tax.
Rabies in the US
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes rabies as a “fatal but preventable viral disease,” and reports 60,000 Americans receive medical care after a potential rabies exposure each year.
While only 1-in-3 rabies cases in humans are reported in the U.S. each year, the CDC warns it is a serious threat due to its high death rate. Nearly 3-in-4 U.S. residents live in a community where raccoons, skunks or foxes carry rabies, according to the CDC.
Rabies is not necessarily uncommon in Lexington. In June 2023, the health department reported a bat found in the Meadowthorpe neighborhood had also tested positive.
Anyone who believes their pet may have come into contact with the rabid skunk in Lexington may want to reach out to their veterinarian as soon as possible and seek medical care for themselves if they think they may have been exposed.
Bites and scratches from infected animals can spread the disease, the CDC reports.
While skunks are generally not a danger, it’s always advisable to keep your pets away from wildlife. If your dog gets sprayed by a skunk, a deodorizing mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and Dawn dish soap may help get rid of the smell, the Herald-Leader previously reported.
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