Atlantic County has reported its third case of rabies this year in a skunk collected in Egg Harbor Township.
Rabies is on the rise at this time of year, and the county and local municipalities are holding clinics that will provide cats and dogs with free rabies vaccinations. This is also a good time to register pets with local municipalities.
The skunk was collected from the 200-block of Pine Avenue on March 1 after an altercation with the property owner’s two dogs and confirmed positive on March 9. Both dogs were current with their rabies vaccinations. They were given boosters and placed under a 45-day informal confinement.
The county’s first rabies case of 2022 was confirmed in January in a fox collected from Hamilton Township. In February, the first skunk collected from Egg Harbor Township was confirmed positive for rabies.
Rabies is a viral disease that can be fatal in humans and pets if left untreated. Rabies vaccinations also help protect pet owners and their family members from contracting the disease from an infected pet.
The Atlantic County Animal Shelter is holding its next free rabies vaccination clinic 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 20, for both dogs and cats by appointment and in accordance with federal and state protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Appointments can be made online at www.aclink.org/animalshelter.
Dogs and cats who receive an initial rabies vaccination are not considered immunized until 28 days after the vaccine has been administered, therefore it is strongly recommended that any animal newly vaccinated or those too young to receive the vaccine (less than 3 months) not be left outdoors unattended.
Situations have arisen where pet owners have left unvaccinated or newly vaccinated pets outdoors where they have sustained exposures to known or suspect rabid animals, resulting in euthanasia or four to six months strict confinement.
Public health officials also advise residents to teach children to stay away from wild, stray or aggressive animals. Never feed or touch wild animals or try to keep them as pets.
If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention. All bites should be reported to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health at 609-645-5971.
For more information about rabies control and precautions to protect your family and your pets, please visit the county web site at www.aclink.org/publichealth or call 609-645-5971.
