Rabid Fox Bites Dog in Rose Hill Area, Police Say

Animal Control Officers will be handing out rabies information pamphlets to residents in the Rose Hill area after a dog was bitten by a rabid fox in the 4400 block of Upland Drive last week, according to Fairfax County Police. Fortunately, the dog was vaccinated and there were no other known exposures to the fox.

So far, in 2015 there have been 20 positive rabies cases investigated by Animal Control Officers; there were 50 in 2014.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Domestic animals account for less than 10 percent of the reported rabies cases, with cats, cattle, and dogs most often reported rabid.

More information on the rabies virus, exposure prevention tips, and what to do if an animal bites is available: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/rabies/

PHOTO of Red Fox courtesy of National Wildlife Foundation