A Walker County, Georgia, skunk has tested positive for animal rabies, marking the county’s first case this year, health officials said Monday in a news release.
In the release, they reminded residents about the potential dangers of rabies and urged them to make sure their pets are vaccinated against the disease. This is the first confirmed animal rabies case in Walker County since 2014.
“Rabies is always circulating in our wild animal population,” said Jason Osgatharp, environmental health manager with the Walker County Health Department. Confirmed cases are relatively rare.
In the release, Osgatharp warned residents to avoid wild, stray and possibly unvaccinated animals that could be infected with rabies, and he said they should take other precautions to protect themselves, their families and their pets.
“Getting your pet vaccinated against rabies is the single best way to protect your pet from rabies,” Osgatharp said. “It’s important to do it for their protection, for our protection, and because it’s state law.