The South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH) verified that a skunk in Abbeville County and a stray cat in Laurens County tested positive for rabies this week.
The infected skunk was discovered near Bulls Horn and Bouchillon Roads in Abbeville County, exposing seven canines, all of whom will be confined under the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.
In Laurens County, a stray orange cat discovered at Geddy and Millrock Church roads tested positive for rabies, infecting six people and two vaccinated dogs, who will also be quarantined.
Terri McCollister, rabies program manager, emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention if exposed to potentially rabid animals, saying, “The rabies virus is found in infected animals’ saliva and can be transmitted through a bite, scratch, broken skin, and the mucous membranes of your eyes, nose, or mouth.”
Officials said the unvaccinated stray cat kept with the rabid orange cat in Laurens County was destroyed after safety concerns were discussed with the caregivers.
The rabid skunk in Abbeville County was verified on November 18, and the rabid cat in Laurens County was confirmed on November 19.
Stray and feral cats are key sources of rabies exposure because of their frequent contact with wildlife, and they can unwittingly shed the virus in their saliva, according to the SCDPH.
The skunk is Abbeville County’s fourth rabies-positive animal this year, while the cat is Laurens County’s fifth.
South Carolina has reported 92 incidences of rabid animals this year.
