Rabies Alert Issued In Florida After Woman Is Attacked By Infected Fox
Whenever a case of rabies is reported, there is always an alert issued because of how serious the virus is. Transmitted via contact, primarily through bites or scratches, it could easily become an epidemic if not contained quickly since the virus makes the infected aggressive too. Here on The Inquisitr, we reported on past situations which included rabies, such as a man dying after receiving a kidney from a rabies-infected donor and a family who contracted the virus through an infected bobcat.
Now a new rabies alert is issued in Florida after a fox tested positive for rabies after the animal attacked a woman.
According to an article by WFTV 9, an 82-year-old Mount Dora woman was out for a walk when a fox attacked her in the 4300 block of Baywood Boulevard on Friday, August 22. Several people who saw the attack were shocked to find out the fox had rabies. Chris Getty, a witness who ended up being “up-and-close” to the situation, recounts what happened after answering the door for the woman who was attacked frantically banging on it.
“I come outside and the fox was still attached to her hand. Her fingers were bitten up pretty bad. They were bloody.”
Shortly after the attack, a rabies alert was issued by the health department in Lake County, which urged residents to make sure their pets were vaccinated.
Another article by WKMG Local 6 reported that rabies alerts are active for sixty days. Officials made the following statement pertaining to the notice.
“All residents and visitors in Lake County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Lake County. Alerts are designed to increase awareness to the public, but they should not give a false sense of security to areas that have not been named as under an alert.”
The authorities also stated the rabies alert is in the Mount Dora Area and includes Highway 411 as the north boundary, Lakeshore Drive as the south boundary, Greenway Drive as the east boundary, and David Walker Drive as the west boundary.
Anyone who was bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal should seek medical attention and report the injury to the Florida Department of Health in Lake County at (352) 253-6130. As for strays, Lake County Animal Services can be reached at (352) 343-9688. More information could be found at the official website for the Florida Department of Health.
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