A fox has tested positive for rabies after biting a child on July 23 in the Log House Road area of Peachtree City, the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory has confirmed.

A mother and two of her children were in their driveway with their two small dogs when a fox—which had previously encountered or had been spotted by other residents in the area on several occasions—came out from under one of their vehicles. They quickly scooped up their dogs, but as they were moving inside their house to safety, the fox began nipping at the heels of one of the children, biting the child several times.

Bonnie Turner, Environmental Health Manager for Fayette County, said she urges everyone to take necessary precautions to protect themselves, their families, and their pets from contracting rabies, a deadly preventable virus that spreads most often through the bite of an infected animal. Though less common, the virus also can spread when infectious saliva comes in contact with a scratch or open wound (potentially through licking) or in contact with the eyes, nose and mouth.

One of the best ways to avoid rabies exposure is to stay away from unfamiliar dogs, cats, and wild animals, even though this Peachtree City family’s experience shows that some encounters may be unavoidable. The other best way to protect you, your family, and your pets is to make sure your pets are current with their rabies vaccinations. Georgia law requires owned dogs, cats, and ferrets to have a current rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian.

Vaccination protects your pet from a deadly disease—one they could pass to you, your family members, and other pets. It also protects your pet in case it bites a person, said Seth Woodrow, Environmental Health Director for District 4 Public Health.

“If your pet bites someone and you can’t prove its rabies vaccines is current, the law may require at least a 10-day quarantine for your pet, or even euthanasia so its brain tissue can be examined for signs of rabies,” he said.

Woodrow said he urges people to stay away from wild or stray animals that appear unafraid of humans and those that exhibit behaviors unusual of their character. Raccoons are the most common wild animals that contract and pass on rabies, comprising about 35 percent of all animal rabies cases in the U.S. Skunks, coyotes, foxes, bats and feral cats also are known transmitters of the disease. Opossums and rodents are less likely to have rabies but could still pose a threat.

“If you notice a wild or nocturnal animal moving about in the daytime, and the animal appears to show no fear of people, or the animal seems to behave in a sick or abnormal way, the animal may be infected with rabies,” Woodrow said. “Therefore, people should avoid the animal and report it to the local health department or animal control.”

Whether the animal looks healthy or sick, don’t approach it. If it appears to be sick, overly aggressive, or out of character, report it to Fayette County Animal Control at (770) 631-7210, the Peachtree City Police Department’s non-emergency number at (770) 487-8866, or the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division at (800) 366-2661.

Report any direct contact with your pet or with a human to Fayette County Animal Control at (770) 631-7210, the Peachtree City Police Department at (770) 487-8866, or the Fayette County Environmental Health Office at (943) 209-8057. Treatment and prevention practices for rabies in humans have proven to be almost 100 percent effective when initiated promptly.

For more information about rabies, please contact your local animal control office, county environmental health office, or visit cdc.gov/rabies.

MORE ABOUT RABIES

Rabies infects the central nervous system, causing encephalopathy (a disease of the brain) and, ultimately, death. Early symptoms of the disease include fever and headache. As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms appear and may include insomnia, confusion, hallucinations, a slight or partial paralysis, hyper salivation, and/or difficulty swallowing.

Several behavioral and physical signs can be possible indicators of rabies in wild animals. Abnormal behaviors might include erratic movements, shaking, stumbling, moving sluggishly or lethargically, or acting aggressive towards people or pets. Other signs can include looking agitated or disturbed, repeated high-pitched vocalization, nervous for unknown reasons, partial paralysis, discharge from the mouth and eyes, or self-mutilation (biting itself).

Even though rabies should always be considered, remember that when wild animals are tending to their young, sometimes their protective behaviors can be mistaken for rabies signs and symptoms. They may venture out more during the daytime to find food when they normally are nocturnal, for instance, and they may appear bold and aggressive because they’re afraid or they think their babies may be in danger.