Skunks test positive for rabies in 2 southern Indiana counties, first confirmed cases in 20 years

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two cases of rabies have southern Indiana on high alert. Health officials said two skunks tested positive for the disease in Clark and Washington counties.

According to a release, skunk rabies are normally present in northern Kentucky and these are the first confirmed cases for the state of Indiana since 2004.

State health officials and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources aren't saying exactly where the infected skunks were found. Clark County Health Officer Dr. Eric Yazel said avoid skunks at all costs,

“Well, when we have a situation of a rabid animal anywhere in the area what we worry about is people approaching that animal because the behavior is different," he said.

There's no way to tell just by looking at an animal if it has rabies as a test in a lab is the only way to know for sure. However, the infected animal may act aggressively, try to bite, drool or foam at the mouth.

And any domestic pets or people exposed to a potentially rabid animal should seek medical attention.

“What we worry about is people not being forth coming about their exposure because they don't want to go through that shot series, the implication if they don't are extremely serious," Dr. Yazel said.

Dr. Yazel said it's important for anyone exposed to rabies to get tested. The disease is preventable even after exposure.

He said the symptoms can take six months to develop but once the symptoms develop, it's too late because the disease is fatal.

The Indiana Board of Animal Health and Department of Natural Resources are developing a plan to test the skunk population. Rabies can be spread to domestic pets.

Skunk breeding season is right around the corner. Males will leave their habitat looking for a mate, their search for romance at times has deadly consequences, that could help track the disease.

"To properly take a surveillance of the skunk population, whether that be collecting animals that have died because of being hit on the road," Melissa Justice, of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, said.