State health officials confirmed rabies in two skunks found in Pickens County and are urging anyone who may have had contact with the animals to seek guidance.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two skunks found near Odell Street and Smith Circle in Liberty have tested positive for rabies, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
No people are known to have been exposed, DPH said. A dog was exposed to the first skunk on Sept. 11, 2026, and to the second skunk on Sept. 13, 2026. The dog will be quarantined under the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.
The skunks were sent to DPH’s laboratory for testing on Sept. 14, 2026, and rabies was confirmed the following day, according to the department.
DPH is asking anyone who believes they, someone they know, or a pet came into contact with either skunk, or any other potentially rabid animal, to contact its Upstate Greenville-Spartanburg office at (864) 372-3270 during business hours, or the after-hours line at (888) 847-0902, option 2.
“Rabies is usually transmitted through a bite or scratch that allows saliva from an infected animal to be introduced into the body of a person or another animal. However, infected saliva or neural tissue contact with open wounds or areas such as the eyes, nose, or mouth could also potentially transmit rabies,” said Terri McCollister, DPH’s Rabies Program manager.
McCollister added: “To reduce the risk of getting rabies, always give wild and stray animals their space. If you see an animal in need, avoid touching it and contact someone trained in handling animals, such as your local animal control officer, wildlife control operator, or a wildlife rehabilitator. Please report all animal bites, scratches, and exposures to potentially rabid animals to DPH.”
DPH said keeping pets current on rabies vaccinations remains one of the most effective ways to guard against the disease.
The two skunks mark the fifth and sixth animals confirmed rabid in Pickens County this year, according to the department. Statewide, 88 animals have tested positive for rabies in 2026. DPH said South Carolina has averaged about 136 positive rabies cases annually since 2002, and four of the state’s 101 confirmed cases in 2025 were in Pickens County.
Based on a release from S.C. Dept. of Public Health.
