White County has received confirmation of its 3rd case of rabies for the year, according to a news release from Sean Sullivan, White County Environmental Health Manager for White County.
On Monday evening, March 3, owners of a home off Helen Highway came home and found a skunk aggressively attacking their dog and biting it on the hindquarters. The skunk was shot several times before it expired, and the Environmental Health office was notified on Tuesday afternoon about the incident.
The skunk was shipped to the Georgia Public Health Lab – Virology Section in Decatur. White County Environmental Health was advised on Friday that the skunk tested positive for rabies.
The dog was current on his rabies vaccination and will have to stay in an observational quarantine for 45 days. Positive alert signs will be posted in the area where the rabid skunk was located.
Animal owners are encouraged to vaccinate their domesticated pets for rabies.
