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Skunk in Town of Watson Tests Positive for Rabies
Published: December 06, 2024
at 12:15 p.m.
By: Press Release
from Lewis County Public Health
Lewis County
Public Health has been notified by the New York State Department of Health
Wadsworth Laboratory that a skunk in the Town of Watson has tested positive
for rabies. The skunk had been observed exhibiting unusual behavior but had
no contact with humans or domestic animals.
Lewis County
Public Health reminds all Lewis County residents and those that visit our
county that rabies is a very serious and deadly disease affecting the
central nervous system. It can be transmitted from infected animals to humans
if they are exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of a rabid animal
through a bite or scratch. It is also possible for a person to have contact
with a bat and not know it while asleep, therefore all bats that are found
in the room of a sleeping person or small child should be captured and
tested for rabies. To view a video on how to safely capture a bat, please
visit: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/docs/catch_the_bat_high.wmv
It is very
important for people and their pets to avoid direct contact with wild
animals, particularly if the animals are behaving abnormally, and ensure
your pets are up to date with rabies vaccinations. For more information
about rabies, call Lewis County Public Health at
315-376-5453. For information on upcoming rabies vaccination clinics, check
the Lewis County Public Health App for details by scanning the QR Code:
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