Another pair come forward after rabid fox bites in Peekskill

Two more people bit by a fox who infected two people with rabies in Peekskill Saturday have come forward.

The Westchester County Department of Health issued an alert Wednesday that two people were bitten by a fox in Peekskill on Jan. 13 that tested positive for rabies. Both people, who were together during the incident, are currently receiving preventive treatment for rabies.

Earlier: Westchester raises rabies awareness after rabid fox bites in Peekskill

The county health department said the second pair alerted the health department after the initial reports of rabies in the area. Both are now under medical care.

All animal bites or contacts with animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health at 914-813-5000. The hotline is run 24 hours a day.

Signs and symptoms of rabies

Rabies, while not extremely common, is still present throughout the United States, including New York, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The virus infects the central nervous system of mammals, causing brain disease and death. Rabies is most common in wild animals like skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats, according to the CDC.

Any mammal can get rabies, even humans. The disease is fatal once humans begin showing symptoms, but it can take weeks or months for symptoms to show and is preventable with the proper treatment.

Preventive treatment for humans includes a rabies immune vaccination of globulin. After the first dose of rabies vaccination, follow-up rabies vaccinations are given three, seven and 14 days from exposure in the deltoid muscle, alternating arms for each sequence.

The Westchester County Department of Health urges all residents to seek medical attention immediately after encountering a rabid animal to prevent fatality and the spread of the disease.

What to do in a rabid animal encounter

Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler said all residents should not approach any wild animals in the area and should be alert if they observe any unusual behavior in animals, as that may be the first sign of the disease.

"A rabid animal may become either abnormally aggressive or unusually tame," Amler said in a news release. "It may lose fear of people, become excited, irritable, or appear particularly passive and lethargic. Staggering and frothing at the mouth are sometimes noted."

Other tips to keep rabid animals from your home include keeping trash can lids securely sealed, removing wild bird feeders, and avoiding leaving pet food outdoors.

New York State law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies and receive regular booster shots. For more information, go to www.westchestergov.com/health.

If you or someone you know has encountered an animal believed to be infected, call the Westchester County Department of Health at 914-813-5000 or Rockland Green at 845-753-2200.

— Reporter Nancy Cutler contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Two more come forward in Peekskill NY after rabid fox bites