Garden State Times

The Camden County Health Department has been notified by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that a skunk removed from a neighborhood in Gloucester Township has tested positive for rabies.

On August 13, a Gloucester Township resident observed their dogs with a skunk in their neighborhood. The Animal Control Officer for Gloucester Township picked up the animal and it was submitted for rabies testing at the state Public Health & Environmental Laboratories in Trenton (PHEL). There were no human exposures observed; the only exposures were the dogs.

The Camden County Health Department was notified this week by the DHHS that the animal was rabid.

The dogs received rabies booster shots and will be placed under a strict four-month quarantine. The ACO is monitoring the situation.

A “Health Bulletin” was distributed in the area where the raccoon was found.

“Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment,” said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Camden County Health Department. “If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention.”

Betteridge urged county residents to observe a few simple rules, including acting responsibly as pet owners:

- Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets.

- 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.

- 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.

Betteridge said it is also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

- 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 litter.

- 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.

- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they seem friendly.

- 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.

- 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.

More information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/ or residents can call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at (856) 374-6370.