Rabid Skunk Found In South River

SOUTH RIVER, NJ — A skunk tested positive for rabies in South River, the Middlesex County Health Dept. announced Wednesday evening. The skunk was found last Sunday, July 23 in the vicinity of Hillside Ave and Ford St.

On Sunday, July 23, a skunk was found acting erratically in the yard of a resident of Hillside Ave. The skunk was euthanized by police, retrieved by animal control and was sent to the New Jersey Department of Health Laboratory for testing. It was reported on Wednesday that the skunk tested positive for rabies. There were no human exposures and no domestic animal exposures to the skunk in this incident.

This is the sixth rabid animal reported within Middlesex County for 2017 and the first rabid animal in South River. Other recent rabies incidents: On July 10, a raccoon was acting "strangely" and out during daylight hours in Woodbridge Twp. Woodbridge Rabies Alert Issued

That same day, a bat was captured inside a home in Highland Park. Six people were exposed to the bat, which later tested positive for the rabies virus. All six are being monitored by health professionals. Bat With Rabies Found In Highland Park Home

If you live in South River, expect to see Middlesex County health employees distributing rabies fact sheets in the area today and Friday.

Bats, skunks, groundhogs, foxes, cats and dogs represent about 95% of animals diagnosed with rabies in the Unites States.