LONG BEACH – A bit of a stink has been raised after the first confirmed report of rabies in a skunk in Los Angeles County since 1979 was recently reported.

Dr. Mitchell Kushner, Long Beach’s health officer, said the discovery of the infected skunk Thursday near Snowden Avenue and Wentworth Street on the Eastside of Long Beach underscores the importance of residents making sure they vaccinate their pets and steer clear of local wildlife.

The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the skunk, which was captured by Animal Control Services after it displayed erratic behavior, was infected with the virus. Rabies is easily spread between wild and domesticated animals and can be spread to humans.

“The main takeaway is that residents should not pet, feed or try to capture wildlife because that can be dangerous,” Kushner said Monday.

The woman who spotted the ailing skunk called Animal Control Services, which Kushner said was the correct decision.

Although infected skunks are extremely rare in Los Angeles County, Kushner said in 2012 there were 16 cases statewide.

The most common animal to be infected is bats, and there were 227 such reported cases in California in 2012, Kushner said.

He said the city is waiting to hear whether the skunk was infected by a rabies strain carried by bats. There was one report in California of a human contracting rabies from a bat bite in 2012, he said.

In addition to skunks, other wildlife such as foxes and raccoons can carry the virus and spread it through contact with saliva and bites, although the cases are rare.

Infected animals can often act violently and erratically. Infected skunks may also have crust around their eyes and noses. The virus causes severe infection to the brain and is usually fatal once symptoms appear.

If treated early, it can be effectively treated, although prevention through vaccines is the most effective, Kushner said.

Contact the writer: gmellen@lbregister.com