Rabies spikes among Texas cattle, likely due to skunks

Rabies appears to be on the rise among cattle in Texas. Biologists believe the disease, which can spread quickly through herds, is being spread by skunks. The College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University reports that cases so far this year have exceeded those from all of 2020, which had double the number from 2019. Dusty Nagy, a clinical associate professor in food animal medicine at the university, chalks it up to an unexpected consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fewer cars on the road has meant fewer skunks killed by cars. More skunks has led to more cattle infections. Biologists say the infections appear to be the skunk variant.

Read more from the Dallas Observer.