Rabies found in Gregg County

B.J. Owen, director of special services for the City of Kilgore, reported Kilgore's animal control officer trapped a rabid skunk on Tuesday.

Owen said a concerned citizen reported seeing the skunk in the daytime which is a good indication that something is wrong with the animal, since skunks are nocturnal.

Nora Moore, animal control officer for the city, trapped the skunk in the area of the 1100 block of State Hwy. 31.

Owen said the skunk was sent to the lab on Wednesday. The lab comfirmed that the animal was rabid. "This is the first report of rabies we have had this year," said Owen. "Last year we had two cases of bats with rabies."

This is a good time to remind animal owners to make sure their animals have their shots up-to-date, said Owen. "If a dog or cat gets in a fight with a rabid animal, it might take one to three months before the animal starts showing signs," said Owen. "Any contact with blood or saliva of the rabid animal can transfer the disease."

Any time you see a skunk or raccoon out in the daytime or a bat lying on the ground, this is a good sign of rabies and you should not touch the animal, said Owen. "Call (903) 983- 1559 and tell the Kilgore Police Dispatcher what the situation is and the animal control officer will be dispatched," said Owen.

When a mammal gets rabies and the disease reaches the brain it is fatal 99.9 percent of the time, he said. "If a person is bitten and the animal tests positive for rabies, post-rabies shots will be started to prevent the disease from reaching the brain."