Officials report that a “small number” of individuals in downtown Vancouver have sought medical attention following bites from a skunk that was confirmed to have rabies.
In a Wednesday advisory, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) indicated that the skunk has been captured, noting that encounters with such animals are quite uncommon.
Anyone who interacted with a “sick or unusually behaving” skunk between September 22 and October 17 is encouraged to seek medical treatment.
The advisory covers areas including Stanley Park and parts of downtown Vancouver and the West End, with boundaries set by Georgia and Burrard streets.
Health officials explain that the rabies virus is present in the saliva of infected animals and is typically spread through bites, although transmission via scratches is less common.
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)
Guerric Haché, a resident of the West End, shared with CBC News that he encountered the skunk last Saturday while heading to the West End Farmers’ Market at the intersection of Comox and Bute streets.
He noticed several people peering into the nearby bushes and spotted the animal, which appeared lethargic and disoriented.
“I began speaking to the skunk because I’m an animal enthusiast. I enjoy doing that,” Haché recounted.
“I was saying, ‘Hi, buddy, how are you?’ The skunk looked up at me, walked onto the sidewalk, and then bit my leg and my shoe.”
Haché caught the skunk and contacted an animal rescue charity, which later confirmed it had rabies after testing. (Submitted by Guerric Haché)
Haché mentioned that he called his partner for assistance in capturing the skunk and sought medical attention after informing an animal rescue charity to take the animal away.
Subsequently, he learned that the skunk had to be euthanized due to a broken jaw—following testing, he received a confirmation call from VCH that it had rabies.
“There have only been three documented instances of rabies in skunks [in B.C.] since 2011, including this case. It’s exceedingly rare in B.C.,” Haché stated.
“I thought the likelihood of it having rabies was minimal, and even if it did, I understood it was highly preventable. So I wasn’t afraid.”
Haché noted that numerous people approached him while he waited for the animal rescue team, sharing that they had heard about an aggressive skunk in the vicinity.
He expressed concern about the presence of a rabid skunk, highlighting the importance of notifying public health authorities if an animal is acting aggressively or appears disoriented, as it may indicate illness.
“The rabies virus is not spread through exposure to the spray, urine, or feces of infected skunks,” the VCH advisory states.
VCH emphasizes that rabies is a severe infection that can impact the brain and nervous system, although it remains quite uncommon in Canada.
“While infections can be fatal, they can be avoided if rabies vaccines and/or rabies immunoglobulin are administered promptly post-exposure,” the advisory added.
A skunk is depicted in a stock image. Vancouver Coastal Health reports that a small number of individuals have been treated after being bitten by a rabid skunk in the downtown area. (Fiona M. Donnelly/Shutterstock)
Additionally, it notes that bats are the only known “reservoirs” of rabies in B.C., meaning they can transmit the virus to other animals or humans.
“If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, skunk, or any wild animal, cleanse the wound with soap and warm water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention immediately,” the VCH advisory recommends.
Pet owners in downtown Vancouver whose animals came into direct contact with a skunk during the specified four-week period should reach out to their veterinarian right away, according to VCH.