Early Wednesday afternoon, Collin County Animal Services released an advisory to let area residents know that two kittens living on a ranch in Blue Ridge have tested positive for rabies by the Texas Department of State Health Services Laboratory in Austin. According to authorities, the kittens were bitten by a rabid skunk on the property.
Collin County officials say all three animals were recovered and have died from the infection.
Rabies is a viral illness that can be transmitted through an infected animal's saliva. Infected animals can transmit the rabies virus prior to the onset of symptoms. The illness can be prevented with treatment before symptoms begin. However, once a person has symptoms, the disease is almost always fatal if left untreated.
Animal contact, such as bites or scratches or contact with saliva, may lead to exposure to rabies. Humans who have been bitten or scratched by a rabid animal must have a series of shots to prevent becoming infected with rabies.
Other domestic animals on the same ranch, including cats, dogs, goats and cattle, have been confined and are under observation. Humans who had contact with the infected kittens have been identified and are being contacted to be treated for their exposure to the virus.
Just minutes after Collin County authorities issued their advisory, officials in Murphy issued a release indicating they are seeing an increase in the number of rabid skunks in the Murphy and Parker areas.
Murphy authorities say they recently sent six skunk carcasses to the State Department of Health Services Laboratory and five of those tested positive for rabies. All the skunks were found near Murphy and Parker.
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Officials say that although there have been no reported cases of human infection with rabies, the high number of skunks with the disease signals that the disease is more prevalent than normal.
Murphy Support Services Manager Kim Parker speculates the mild winter just concluded may be partly to blame for the increase.
Walkers, hikers, runners and joggers should be on the alert for any wild animal that exhibits unexplained or aggressive behaviors. Rabies can attack the brain, causing many infected animals to run in circles or act in ways that are contrary to their nature.
"When confronting animals like this, people should avoid them and call the non-emergency police number," Parker said. "We will take the necessary precautions when capturing these animals, using techniques that the public may not be familiar with."
