On April 20, 2005, the Illinois Department of Public Health laboratory in Springfield reported that a skunk trapped in LaSalle County had tested rabies positive. The skunk was trapped for surveillance purposes by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Wildlife Services to assist in evaluating skunk rabies in this area of the state. The animal was trapped on April 19 in northwest LaSalle County. The skunk was subdued, had wounds and did not spray when the trap was moved. No human or animal exposures to rabies occurred.

From Jan. 1 to April 21, four rabid animals have been identified in Illinois: a Bureau County cow that had been purchased from LaSalle County, a bat from Hancock County, a bat from Winnebago County and the skunk caught in LaSalle County. Circulation of terrestrial animal rabies determines actions that need to be taken in regards to rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after bites from domestic animals that escape and cannot be rabies tested or cannot be confined for 10 days. When rabies virus is not circulating in terrestrial animals (such as skunks), rabies PEP is usually not recommended for these types of bites. When rabies virus is circulating in terrestrial animals, rabies PEP may need to be recommended when domestic animals bite persons and cannot be observed or tested.

The identification of a skunk with rabies in LaSalle County close to where a horse (December 2004) and a cow (January 2005) tested positive for rabies is of great concern. This is the first rabid skunk identified in the state in six years.

To avoid exposure to rabies, citizens should avoid contact with wild, unfamiliar or stray animals and report animals that are acting abnormally to their local animal control. If bitten by an animal, citizens should report the bite to animal control and seek medical attention.

Veterinarians in LaSalle, Lee and Bureau counties can assist with rabies prevention activities by encouraging rabies vaccination of pets and valuable livestock and by encouraging their clients not to allow their pets to roam free. In addition, veterinarians in this area of the state, should be alert for animals acting abnormally that might be carrying rabies and submit these animals for rabies testing to the Illinois Departments of Agriculture or Public Health laboratories. Veterinarians and their staff, especially in these three counties, should ensure they are up-to-date on rabies pre-exposure vaccination. Titers should be checked every two years and if the titer is below 1:5 a booster rabies vaccination is needed.

The public health community appreciates the support of USDA in trapping skunks in this area to better evaluate rabies activity.