Recent rabid animal cases worry Pima health officials

Rabid animals are appearing in busy public places in the Tucson area and causing concern at the Pima County Health Department.

A rabid skunk was found in the parking lot of Planet Fitness, 10525 N. Oracle Road, in Oro Valley on April 20. A rabid bat was found at the Arches on Oracle apartment complex, 5921 N. Oracle Road, on May 4.

Another rabid bat was found in the area of the Lakeside Casitas apartment complex at 8250 E. Golf Links Road on May 9, the same day a rabid bat was found at the entrance of Macy’s department store in the Tucson Mall.

County health officials are asking anyone who came into contact with the rabid animals in those incidents to call the Health Department at 724-7797. If a wild animal is acting strangely or appears unafraid of people, call the Pima Animal Care Center at 724-5900.

“These situations have occurred in nearly every corner of the metro Tucson area,” Dr. Francisco Garcia, Health Department director, said in a news release.

“We aren’t seeing a major increase in the number of rabies cases, but we are finding that an increasing number (of) these situations have occurred in very public and relatively busy places,” he said.

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The rabies virus is transmitted to humans and pets through direct, physical contact, such as a bite or scratch, with an infected animal. Symptoms of the disease may not appear for weeks or years after infection. However, the disease is nearly always fatal once symptoms begin.

The county stressed the importance of vaccinating pets and talking with children about avoiding wildlife.

“We certainly aren’t encouraging people to harm wildlife or avoid outdoor activities,” García said. “We simply want folks to understand that seeing a bat or skunk near an unusual place, like your favorite store or your child’s school, can pose a very real risk of coming into contact with rabies.”

Health Department officials were able to contact the people involved in four other recent incidents, including a skunk found at a Mount Lemmon camp area, a rabid skunk that came into contact with a dog at a Three Points home, and another encounter between a rabid skunk and a dog in the Vail area. Children at a central Tucson school encountered a bat, but it could not be tested for rabies.

Since Jan. 1, the county has seen 16 positive cases of rabies in wild animals, including nine cases involving skunks and seven involving bats, according to Health Department spokesman Aaron Pacheco.

In 2015, the county saw 57 positive rabies cases in wild animals, including 51 in bats and six in skunks.