The Lexington Fayette County Health Department is reminding residents of the city’s Andover Hills neighborhood to catch up on their pets’ rabies vaccinations after a report of a rabid skunk in the area.
The report was made last week to UK’s Veterinarian Diagnostic Lab. In response, the local health department recommends to check with your vet or clinic to see if your pet’s vaccinations are up to date.
Luke Mathis, the department’s environmental health supervisor, says the disease can affect humans as well.
“Animals can be, well, people, for that matter, can be infected from the bite of a rabid animal, but the rabies vaccine pretty much takes that worry away for people,” Mathis said.
Mathis says to stay away from any animal that might be rabid.
“Don’t interact with wildlife. Don’t try to handle or capture any, whether it’s skunks, bats, raccoons, anything like that,” Mathis said.
Any animal that shows signs of having rabies should be reported to animal control.
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