Rabid Raccoon and Skunk Confirmed in Greenville and Pickens Counties; One Person and Three Pets Exposed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dec. 12, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that a raccoon and skunk – from different counties – have tested positive for rabies. 

• In Greenville County, the raccoon that tested positive for rabies was found near Painter Road and Ora Lane in Pelzer, S.C. No people are known to have been exposed at this time. One cat was exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.
• In Pickens County, the skunk that tested positive for rabies was found near Shady Oaks and Arial streets in Easley, S.C. One person was potentially exposed and has been referred to their health care provider. Two dogs were exposed and will be quarantine as required in the Rabies Control Act.

The Greenville County raccoon and Pickens County skunk were submitted to DPH's laboratory for testing Dec. 10, 2024, and were confirmed to have rabies Dec. 11, 2024. If you believe you, someone you know, or your pets have come in contact with this raccoon, skunk, or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DPH's Upstate Greenville-Spartanburg office at (864) 372-3270 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on holidays at (888) 847-0902 (Select Option 2).

Please report all animal bites, scratches, and exposures to potentially rabid animals to DPH. 

“Rabies virus can be present in the saliva of infected dogs, cats, and ferrets during illness and even several days before clinical signs develop," said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program director. "The rabies virus is found in the saliva of infected animals and can be transmitted through a bite, scratch, broken skin, and the mucous membranes of your eyes, nose, or mouth. Immediately wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water. Contact your local Public Health office for further guidance.”

It is important to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, as this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect against the disease. Both the Greenville County raccoon and the Pickens County skunk are the sixth animals in their counties to test positive for rabies in 2024. There have been 70 cases of rabid animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 148 positive cases a year. In 2023,  three of the 78 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina were in Greenville County, and six were in Pickens County.

Contact information for local Public Health offices is available at dph.sc.gov/RabiesContacts. For more information on rabies, visit dph.sc.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.

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