A rabid fox bit a child in Raleigh. What we know and how to stop rabies from spreading

A rabid fox bit a child over the weekend in a neighborhood in West Raleigh, Wake County officials said Tuesday.

A Raleigh Police Department Animal Control officer responded to a report of a bite in the 400 block of Spiedie Court, off Western Boulevard west of Interstate 440, the Beltline, on Saturday.

The fox was euthanized and sent for rabies testing, which confirmed the infection. Neither police nor the county said how the child came in contact with the animal.

No other incidents have been reported involving the animal, the county said. But anyone who was in the area where the bite occurred and may have encountered the fox is encouraged to call the Wake County Communicable Disease line at 919-250-4462.

Anyone who was scratched or bitten, or whose pet was scratched or bitten, should seek medical care immediately, the county said.

According the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. In the U.S., it’s mostly found in wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes, but can spread to people and pets through scratches or bites.

The virus infects the central nervous system. If a person doesn’t get appropriate medical care after a potential rabies exposure, the virus can cause disease in the brain.

Rabies cases typically increase in the South during the warmer months when people and pets spend more time outside, where they are more likely to encounter wild animals.

To prevent the spread of rabies:

▪ If you see an animal behaving unusually, call Animal Control officials.

▪ Keep a safe distance and don’t approach animals you don’t know.

▪ If you are bitten or scratched by any animal whose vaccination history is unknown, wash the wound immediately and seek medical attention.

▪ Keep your pets’ vaccinations up to date. If the pet is allowed outside, booster vaccinations are strongly recommended.

▪ Don’t feed stray animals, including cats and dogs.

▪ Don’t leave trash or food outside that isn’t in an enclosed container with a tight-fitting lid.

▪ If your pet is fed outside, don’t leave food out overnight. It can attract wild animals.

▪ If a pet comes in contact with an animal that could be rabid, contact a veterinarian immediately.

For more information, go to wake.gov/StopRabies.