According to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), an Atmore woman was recently bitten by a rabid fox while unloading groceries from her car. The animal was eventually captured and brought to the Alabama Department of Public Health Bureau of Clinical Laboratories, where it tested positive for the dangerous disease.
The victim received proper medical attention and post-exposure prophylaxis to treat the bite.
“Although rabies is primarily found in wild animals since widespread vaccination of domestic animals began over 70 years ago, it continues to be a public health threat,” said Dr. Dee W. Jones, a public health veterinarian for the state of Alabama. “Although attacks such as this by rabid wildlife are rather uncommon, it highlights the risk rabies continues poses and hopefully reminds people to be aware of the risks and continue to vaccinate their pets.”
Contact between rabid wild animals and domestic pets is common, states the ADPH. Citizens should make sure that their pets are current on rabies vaccinations, take precautions with wildlife, and report animal bites or other exposures to their medical provider and the ADPH.
Area residents are also advised to take the following precautions to avoid possible exposures to rabies:
- Do not allow pets to run loose; confine within a fenced-in area or with a leash.
- Do not leave uneaten pet food or scraps near your residence.
- Do not illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets.
- Do not go near wildlife or domestic animals that are acting in a strange or unusual manner.
- Caution children not to go near any stray or wild animal, regardless of its behavior.
For more information, visit the ADPH website.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
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