A rabid fox attacks a Guilford County child, the county's fifth recorded case of rabies in 2014.
The Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services alerts residents about its fifth rabies case. Tuesday, July 8, a fox was found on Kearns Street in Jamestown and it later tested positive for rabies.
Sandy Ellington is the media coordinator for the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services. She says the incident occurred when a child, who was playing outside, was attacked by the fox.
Ellington doesn't know how the fox contracted rabies. The previous four cases involved: a cat, a bat, a raccoon and a different fox. “Last year as of July, we had already had ten cases, about half where we were last year", Ellington says. "With the wildlife population, it kind of ebbs and flows. There are years when you'll have a lot of exposure and there are years when you'll have not so many.”
Ellington says if you see wildlife, do not attempt to rescue or pet them. She also adds if you feed your pets outside then take up their food as soon as they are done so as not to attract wildlife. According to Ellington, the best protection is vaccination. “The main thing is to get your pet immunized, even if it is an indoor pet and you think, well it never goes outside. You still need to make sure you have those rabies vaccinated,” Ellington says. This summer, at designated areas, The Guilford County Animal Control is offering low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. The rabies vaccination will be $5.00 per shot. Cash and personal checks will be accepted.
Vaccination days and times:
Saturday, August 23, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Fire District #28, 6619 NC 61 North, Gibsonville, NC 27249
Saturday, September 27, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Pleasant Garden Town Hall, 4920 Alliance Church Road, Pleasant Garden, NC 27313
Saturday, October 18, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Jamestown Town Hall, 301 East Main Street, Jamestown, NC 27282
For your pet's safety and the safety of others at these clinics, dogs must be leashed and cats must be in carriers.
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