Raccoon rabies outbreak spreads to skunks; 58 animals have tested positive

A little skunk scampers through the grass in this file photo from Wednesday, June 14, 2006, in Hart Park in Bakersfield, Calif. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS / The Bakersfield Californian, Casey Christie)

Hamilton health officials say the raccoon rabies outbreak in the area has now spread to skunks.

Sixteen skunks tested positive last month for the same strain of the virus found in 42 raccoons since December.

But what has health officials worried is that 12 of those 16 skunk cases were in urban areas.

Officials say raccoon rabies has also spread to Niagara where a raccoon from West Lincoln tested positive.