Rabid Skunk Confirmed in York County; Fifth Case in County This Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. — A skunk found near Pennington Road and Whipporwill Lane in Rock Hill has tested positive for rabies, marking York County’s fifth confirmed case of the disease in 2025, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH).

Two dogs were exposed to the rabid skunk and are being quarantined as required under the South Carolina Rabies Control Act. No human exposures were reported in this incident.

The skunk was one of five animals across the state that tested positive for rabies in separate incidents confirmed by DPH on August 19. The animals included a bobcat in Aiken County, a fox in Berkeley County, raccoons in Laurens and Pickens counties, and the skunk in York County. Altogether, these incidents resulted in four human exposures, five pet exposures, and two livestock exposures.

Statewide, 56 rabid animals have been confirmed so far in 2025. York County has seen five of those cases. By comparison, there were six rabies cases in York County in 2024.

Terri McCollister, DPH’s Rabies Program manager, emphasized the importance of vaccination: “Keeping your pets and livestock current on their rabies vaccination is a responsibility that comes with owning an animal. It is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can protect yourself, your family, your pets, and your livestock from this fatal disease.”

South Carolina law requires that all dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccination is also encouraged for livestock, particularly cattle and horses, which are the most frequently reported infected livestock species.

Residents who believe they or their pets may have come into contact with a potentially rabid animal are urged to call DPH’s 24-hour rabies reporting line at 1-888-847-0902 (Option 2).

More information about rabies, including how to protect pets and livestock, can be found at dph.sc.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.

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