Skunks Don't Make Good Pets

This comes from the Iowa Department of Public Health. Read and pass along!
Several weeks ago, a Northwest Iowa family decided to adopt a baby skunk that they had found in their yard. When the skunk became ill last weekend, a vet was called; the skunk was tested and found to be rabid. The skunk was likely infected with rabies before it was brought into the home. Because of this:
~All five family members are receiving the rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin;
~Approximately 20 other family members and friends who came in contact with the skunk are being assessed for exposure to rabies and at least 6 others are receiving rabies shots;
~The unvaccinated family dog will have to be put into quarantine for six months, or euthanized.
Lessons to be learned:
~Avoid contact with all wild animals, especially skunks and bats since these animals are the reservoir for the rabies virus in Iowa.
~Vaccinate all pets against rabies.
~Do not keep any wild animals as pets. Special licenses are needed in Iowa to keep wild animals.

Taken from the EPI Update for Friday July 23, 2010
Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE)
Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH)