Rabies detected in skunks at Sacramento’s Land Park, say county officials
Skunks captured in Land Park have tested positive for rabies days after a Sacramento Zoo visitor was bitten earlier this week, Sacramento County officials said Friday. Now officials are asking park visitors to watch their surroundings.
The zoo visitor was bitten by a skunk on Tuesday, Oct. 15, said county officials in a statement. The skunk was acting aggressively. Zoo officials captured and euthanized three skunks after the biting incident and sent them to be tested at the Sacramento Public Health Laboratory.
It was not immediately known if the person tested positive for rabies.
Lab results came back Thursday confirming two of the three skunks put down by zoo staffers tested positive for rabies. That same day, zoo officials captured and euthanized a fourth skunk. The animal will also be sent away for testing, Sacramento County officials said Friday.
Sacramento Zoo officials are unsure if they have euthanized the skunk that inflicted the injury in Tuesday and if it had rabies, said Elizabeth Zelidon, a spokeswoman Sacramento County’s Department of Health Services.
Officials warn that rabies is a severe infection of the central nervous system. The infection is caused by a virus transmitted via a bite from an infected animal. Rabies can be treated but those bitten must act quickly.
Once clinical signs of rabies are seen, the disease is almost always fatal.
If you are bitten by an animal believed to have rabies, immediately wash all animal bites with soap and water, seek medical attention and contact Sacramento County at 3-1-1 or Sacramento County Animal Control Services at (916) 875-4311.
Officials ask to avoid contact with wild animals and, if you spot sick or injured animals, contact Sacramento County Animal Control Services.
Report any unusual behavior of wildlife or domestic animals including stumbling, seizures or aggressiveness to local animal control.
This story was originally published October 18, 2024 at 11:49 AM.
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