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A skunk caught in Clovis on Friday has tested positive for rabies, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

The skunk had not bitten anyone and was 鈥渟afely captured and submitted for testing,鈥� Clovis Police Chief Trevor Thron said in a news release Wednesday.

The skunk was the second confirmed rabies case in Curry County this year and brought the statewide total to four cases. Rabies was also found in a bat, bobcat and dog. 

The number of annual rabies cases in the state has fluctuated between 11 and 19 since 2020. In 2019, the state recorded 27 cases, which included a sheep in San Miguel County.

Bites are fairly uncommon but late last year a hiker was bitten by a coyote with rabies in the Gila National Forest near Silver City.

The majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention occur in wild animals, with only 10% of cases found in domestic animals, according to NMDOH. The virus infects the central nervous system, causing encephalopathy and ultimately death, which occurs within days of the onset of symptoms.

The symptoms of rabies start with fever, headache and general malaise but, untreated, can escalate to partial paralysis, hallucinations, hypersalivation and hydrophobia (fear of water), among others. 

Clovis Animal Control received a call Friday about 鈥渁 skunk exhibiting abnormal behavior in the 2300 block of East 14th Street.鈥�

Capt. Roman Romero of the Clovis Police Department said a resident reported that the skunk was in their yard and 鈥渢hey were able to approach it and move it out of their yard.鈥�

鈥淪ince skunks are usually nocturnal, not easily approachable, and when typically encountered may 鈥榮pray,鈥� the Animal Control Officers believed the wild animal to have some ailment,鈥� Romero said. 鈥淭he animal was not aggressive.鈥�

Romero said because of its behavior and another recent rabies case reported in the county, animal control 鈥渂elieved it necessary to euthanize and forward the animal for testing.鈥�

NMDOH confirmed the skunk had rabies.

David Morgan, state DOH spokesperson, said rabies testing is only performed after death and is done using brain tissue 鈥� by detecting virus proteins 鈥� at a state laboratory in sa国际传媒官网网页入口.

鈥淭he Clovis Police Department will continue to work closely with the New Mexico Department of Health to monitor the situation and ensure public safety,鈥� Thron said.

Thron asked residents to ensure their pets are up to date on vaccinations, avoid contact with wild or 鈥渦nfamiliar鈥� animals, report animal bites immediately, and stay away from 鈥渁nimals that appear sick or behave abnormally.鈥�

Thron said any residents who encounter a sick or suspicious animal can contact Clovis Animal Control.

Anyone who is bitten or believes they have been exposed to rabies should seek medical attention and call the state Department of Health Helpline at 833-796-8773.