Nebraska health officials are reporting a sharp spike in the number of rabies-infected animals this year.
The state Department of Health and Human Services says 51 animals have tested positive for rabies so far this year, compared with 43 rabies cases in all of 2008. There were just 31 cases in 2007.
Officials say that so far this year, there have been 11 cases where animals may have exposed humans to rabies. A state HHS spokeswoman says Nebraska’s last known rabies death was in 1926.
Officials say one reason for the rise in rabies cases is an increase in the skunk population. Most of the infected animals found this year have been skunks.
Category: News
