A skunk killed by a dog in South Jersey recently tested positive for rabies, Camden County officials reported. This incident occurred on May 16 when a resident in Cherry Hill informed authorities that their dog had killed a skunk in their backyard.
The skunk was sent to a state laboratory for testing, and on Wednesday the Camden County Department of Health announced that the results confirmed the presence of rabies. In response, the dog received a rabies booster shot and will undergo a four-month quarantine.
This skunk marks the third animal in Camden County to test positive for rabies since early April. Earlier, police in Oaklyn had to put down a raccoon suspected of being rabid on April 27, which was confirmed by the state laboratory on May 2.
Additionally, another raccoon that attacked a dog in Collingswood earlier in April was also confirmed to have rabies.
County commissioner Virginia Betteridge, who serves as the liaison to the Camden County Health Department, emphasized the seriousness of rabies but noted that early treatment can prevent it. She urged anyone who has been bitten or scratched by a wild animal to seek immediate medical care.
