The first positive rabies case in Gloucester this year was confirmed on Jan. 6—an unusually early date for such occurrence, according to M.B. Sheppard, environmental health supervisor for the local health department and Three Rivers Health District.

The most recent rabies case involved interaction of a skunk with two dogs in the Roaring Springs Road area on Jan. 4, Sheppard said. In December, two other skunks were confirmed positive for rabies in that same area.
In 2014, five animals—two raccoons, two skunks and a fox—were confirmed to be positive for rabies, he said. Last year’s total was a bit low, compared to other years, he said.

In the most recent case, Sheppard said, the skunk was killed by one of the two dogs; both dogs are current on their vaccinations. The dogs were scheduled to receive booster shots and will be placed on 45-day observation.

“There was no human contact in this case,” he said, but warned that rabies can affect all warm-blo...