Rabies Case Confirmed in Spotsylvania

Health officials are warning residents of a Spotsylvania County community that a gray fox found in the area has tested positive for rabies.

The fox was found Thursday, June 4, in the Spotswood Furnace Road area, and the Spotsylvania Health Department is notifying the public in case anyone — or any pets — may have had contact with the gray fox shortly before it was located last week.

Any known contact with wild animals in the area or a pet observed behaving abnormally, should be reported to Spotsylvania Animal Control (540-582-7115) and the Health Department (540-507-7386).

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. It is preventable in animals through vaccinations, but is fatal to both animals and humans if left untreated, according to the Health Department.

Rabies Prevention Tips

Residents should not approach or touch wild animals or unknown domestic animals, and report any abnormal behavior involving these animals. All animal bites and rabies exposures (from both wild and domestic animals) must be reported to Spotsylvania County Animal Control at 540-582-7115.

Vaccinating domestic animals (dogs and cats) also protects people from getting rabies. If the domestic animal population is properly vaccinated, it breaks the transmission cycle of a wild animal infecting a domestic animal (pet), and that animal infecting the pet owner.

While intentions are good, please do not put food out for stray or feral (wild domestic) animals. This will bring domestic and wild animals into close contact where transmission of the rabies virus is more likely to occur. If you have pets that live outside, feed and water them in a manner that does not attract wild animals.