New Rabies Case Confirmed In Oakland County: Health Officials

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI — A new case of rabies has been confirmed in Oakland County, this time in a skunk from West Bloomfield.

Oakland County Health Division confirmed the animal rabies case in a skunk removed from West Bloomfield, north of West 14 Mile Road, south of West Maple Road between Orchard Lake and Middlebelt Roads.

In 2019, rabies has been verified in one cat, four bats and twelve skunks in Oakland County.

"The best protection is to avoid contact with stray, wild, and dead animals. Rabies is a fatal disease for both humans and pets and there is no known cure,” said Dr. Faust, Medical Director for Oakland County. “Help keep pets protected by getting them vaccinated and avoiding encounters with unfamiliar animals.”

State officials said that due to unusually warm temperatures in December there could be increased activity of wild animals.

How to protect yourself and pets

Residents are urged to stay away from animals such as skunks, bats, raccoons, foxes, and stray cats and dogs. If you or your household pet are exposed to any wild animal or an animal unknown to you, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water. Then seek medical or veterinary attention immediately, even if your animal was previously vaccinated. The rabies virus is found in the saliva of infected animals and is spread through bites or scratches. Rabies is not spread through a skunk’s spray.

Residents should keep away from unfamiliar animals, especially if they are acting strangely such as having problems swallowing, exhibiting lots of drool or saliva, appearing tamer than you would expect, biting at everything, and/or having trouble moving or are paralyzed.

Follow these simple steps to protect yourself from rabies:

• Have pets vaccinated regularly.
• Do not handle stray, wild, or dead animals.
• Keep pets indoors, supervise when outside, and always use a leash when walking to limit their exposure to wild animals that may be rabid.
• Do not leave food or water outside for pets when unattended.
• Keep garbage securely covered, as these items may attract wild or stray animals.

For more information, visit www.oakgov.com/health.

To report potential rabies exposure, call the Health Division at 248-858-1286.