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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Health authorities in western Pennsylvania are advising residents to avoid contact with wild animals after a rabid skunk was found in a Pittsburgh-area borough. The Allegheny County health department said a skunk struck by a vehicle Wednesday in Etna tested positive for rabies. Officials said county residents should avoid contact with wild animals or animals they don't know, and they should have pets vaccinated and watch for unusual behavior. Anyone bitten, scratched or exposed to saliva should wash the area with soap and water and seek emergency treatment. Rabies is almost always fatal when exposures are left untreated, but the rabies vaccine is highly effective when given promptly. Fifteen rabid animals have been reported in the county this year: nine bats, three raccoons, one cat, one coyote and one skunk.

Rabid skunk found in Pittsburgh-area borough