Rabies Alert For Alexandria Residents After Ill Fox Captured

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Residents in Alexandria are being warned to contact health officials if you or a family member was in contact with a fax captured near Jefferson-Houston School on Thursday. Authorities say the fox looked ill and is being tested for rabies.

Anyone who had physical contact with a fox, is asked to call the Alexandria Health Department at 703-746-4910 or after hours call 703-795-8506.

Rabies is spread by the bite or scratch of an infected animal, such as a cat, raccoon, fox or bat. It is also spread when the infected animal's saliva comes in contact with the eyes, nose, mouth or open cut of a person or another animal. Preventive treatment might be required for anyone who handled or fed the animal. Rabies is a fatal disease, and vaccines must be started as soon as possible.

When a person is bitten or exposed to the saliva of a rabid animal, the disease is prevented with a four dose rabies vaccine series administered over a 14-day period and a dose of rabies immunoglobulin given at the beginning of the series (rabies post-exposure prophylaxis).

If you see a fox that looks unwell or behaving strangely, call Animal Control.

How to Keep You and Your Pets Safe

• Do not feed or approach any wild, stray or feral animals, even if they appear friendly or injured
• Make sure your dogs and cats are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations
• Dogs must be on a leash in all public areas and parks

Symptoms of Rabies in Animals

• Unexpected aggression from an animal
• Extreme drooling or foaming at the mouth
• Walking as if drunk or unusual sluggishness or stupor

If you have concerns about animals or see these animals, call Alexandria Animal Control at 703-746-4774 or after hours call 703-746-4444.

For more information on rabies, click here.

To prevent your exposure to rabies:

• Do not approach, handle or feed stray dogs and cats and enforce leash laws.
• Teach your children not to approach any unfamiliar animals.
• Have your dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated against rabies and keep the vaccinations up-to-date.
• Do not leave pets outside unattended or allow them to roam free.
• Cover garbage cans tightly and do not leave pet food outside; this may attract wild and stray animals.
• Teach children to stay away from wild animals or animals they do not know.
• Wear gloves when handling an animal if it has been in a fight with another animal. Keep it away from people and other animals and call your veterinarian or local health department to report the animal exposure.

If you are bitten by or exposed to an animal that may be rabid, you should take the following steps:

• If it is a wild animal, try to trap it if you can do so safely. If the animal must be killed, try not to damage the head.
• If it is an owned animal, get the animal owner's name, address, and telephone number.
• Immediately wash the wound well with soap and water; if available, use a disinfectant to flush the wound.
• Get prompt medical attention.
• Immediately report the exposure to your local animal control agency, health department, or police.
• Consider treatment if a bat was present and exposure cannot be reasonably ruled out (e.g., a sleeping person awakens to find a bat in the room, or an adult sees a bat in the room with a previously unattended child or mentally disabled or intoxicated person).

(Image via Morguefile)