Number of people bitten by rabid skunk in downtown Vancouver: officials
Vancouver health officials are urging anyone who had contact with a rabid skunk in the downtown area between September 22 and October 17 to seek medical treatment. The skunk was captured after biting a resident and subsequently tested positive for rabies.
Why it matters
Public health warnings regarding zoonotic diseases are essential for preventing the spread of dangerous viruses like rabies.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) said in a Wednesday advisory that the skunk was captured, and interactions with the animals are usually rare.
However, anyone who had contact with a "sick or abnormally behaving" skunk between Sept. 22 and Oct. 17 is being asked to seek treatment.
The area covered by the advisory includes Stanley Park and a chunk of downtown Vancouver and the West End, bordered by Georgia and Burrard streets.
Officials say the rabies virus is found in the saliva of infected animals and is usually transmitted through a bite, though it is less commonly transmitted through scratches.
Anyone who had contact with a sick skunk in the highlighted area of downtown Vancouver, which includes Stanley Park, is asked to seek treatment. (Vancouver Coastal Health)
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