Arkansas health officials have confirmed over 100 cases of rabies in Arkansas so far this year. The second peak season for rabies is just about to begin, the first being in March and April.
The Arkansas Department of Health’s most recent report shows shows Hempstead county to be the closest county to Texarkana to report a rabies find with 1 skunk being found.
The state’s most populated county Pulaski, which contains Little Rock, has had the most rabid animals with 26 being reported. Neighboring county Lonoke has had 13 rabid animals reported.
Of the 105 total cases reported in Arkansas 88 were skunks, one fox, one dog, one cow, two cats, and 12 bats.
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in humans and other warm-blooded animals. The time period between contracting the disease and the start of symptoms is usually one to three months. Once symptoms appears it nearly always results in death.
