2nd Animal Confirmed Rabid In Camden Co. In Recent Days

GIBBSBORO, NJ — A skunk that encountered two dogs in Gibbsboro tested positive for rabies, marking Camden County's second-known rabies case in recent days, officials said.

A Gibbsboro resident saw the skunk near their two dogs in their backyard on Aug. 19. Animal control picked up the skunk and arranged for rabies testing at a state lab.

County health officials were notified Wednesday that the animal was rabid.

The Camden County Health Department received proof of vaccination for one dog, which will be confined and observed for four months. The owners failed to provide proof of vaccination for their other dog, which will undergo a strict, four-month quarantine, officials said.

Both dogs received a rabies booster shot.

There were no known human exposures to the skunk as of Thursday.

Earlier this week, a dead raccoon in Barrington tested positive for rabies. A dog killed the animal in a local backyard on Aug. 18.

Three family members and two dogs may have been exposed to the raccoon, officials said Monday. Read more: Rabid Raccoon Put Family, Dogs At Risk Of Deadly Disease In Camden Co.

Human deaths from rabies are rare in the United States, with fewer than 10 per year since 1960, according to the CDC. But rabies is fatal in more than 99 percent of cases, with no treatment once signs or symptoms emerge, so post-exposure treatment is vital for people and animals.

"Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment," County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge said in a statement. "If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention."

Betteridge, the liaison to the county health department, urged pet owners to do the following:

• Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats and ferrets.
• Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not interact 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.

People should also take the following steps to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals, Betteridge says:

• Enjoy wildlife such as raccoons, skunks and foxes from afar. Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or liter.
• 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, houses of worship, 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, where tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year.

For more information about rabies, visit the CDC's webpage. Camden County residents can call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 856-374-6370.