February 17, 2026<\/p>\n
Media Contact:\u00a0<\/strong>Brandon Applewhite, Environmental Health Supervisor, Skunk Tests Positive for Rabies in Southampton County<\/strong><\/p>\n SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, Va. – The Southampton County Health Department is alerting the public that a skunk tested positive for rabies. The skunk was taken from the 2200 block of Story Station Road in Courtland. Health officials consider skunks high-risk animals for rabies.<\/p>\n Rabies is a fatal disease, but it can be prevented. The most common way people are exposed to rabies is when an infected animal bites or scratches them. The infected animal\u2019s saliva enters the body through an open wound or mucous membrane. Prompt evaluation and complete treatment is critical. Unfortunately, there is no cure for rabies. Without preventive treatment, by the time someone develops symptoms of rabies, the disease is fatal in almost 100% of cases. The disease is also fatal in infected domestic dogs and cats that have not been vaccinated. \u00a0Rabies is highly preventable if vaccine is given early.<\/p>\n Angela Tillery, health director for the Western Tidewater Health District, strongly recommends Southampton County residents protect their families and their pets from rabies.<\/p>\n State law requires all dogs and cats over the age of four months to be vaccinated, against rabies. For more information on rabies, contact the Southampton County Health Department at (757) 653-3040, Southampton County Animal Control at (757) 653-2100, or visit the Virginia Department of Health<\/a> or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" February 17, 2026 Media Contact:\u00a0Brandon Applewhite, Environmental Health Supervisor, 757-653-3040 Skunk Tests Positive for Rabies in Southampton County SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, Va. – The Southampton County Health Department is alerting the public that a skunk tested positive for rabies. The skunk was taken from the 2200 block of Story Station Road in Courtland. Health officials consider […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":0,"parent":16853,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[988,1539,510,34,209,1044,1540],"class_list":["post-17481","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","tag-angela-tillery-health-director","tag-courtland","tag-rabid","tag-rabies","tag-skunk","tag-southampton","tag-story-station-road"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n757-653-3040<\/p>\n\n
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