The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that a rabid fox was found in the Bellefonte area this week and urged anyone who may have been bitten or scratched by the animal to contact health providers.
The fox was discovered on Wednesday in the area of 100 Hertzler Drive in Spring Township, according to DOH, which is conducting community outreach.
Spring Township police wrote in a Facebook post that they and the state Game Commission responded to a call about a gray fox acting aggressively on Wednesday. After the fox was captured and put down, testing confirmed it had rabies.
DOH Deputy Press Secretary Neil Ruhland said “was alerted to a possible rabies exposure related to a fox in Centre County,” but said the department cannot comment on whether an individual may have come in contact with the animal. Ruhland added that Pennsylvania has not had a human case of rabies since 1984, and on average one to three people in the United States are diagnosed with rabies each year.
Anyone with a bite or other significant exposure should contact their health care provider or call the health department at 1-877-724-3258. Significant exposure includes any situation in which saliva or central nervous system tissue from a possibly rabid animal may have entered an open wound or comes in contact with the eyes, mouth or nose.
Anyone with a pet that has been injured by the fox should contact their veterinarian. Residents should ensure that their pets are currently vaccinated against rabies.
“A highly effective rabies vaccine is available for domestic animals, like dogs and cats,” Ruhland wrote in an email. “However, wildlife can be infected and pose a risk to human health. DOH performs risk assessments for Commonwealth residents who may have been exposed to rabies, and staff recommend appropriate treatment. This work is important because rabies is nearly 100 percent fatal once symptoms develop.”
To prevent exposure to rabies, DOH advises that people should avoid contact with all stray or wild animals, especially bats, raccoons, foxes and skunks; seek medical care if bitten by a wild or domestic animal; and make sure that their pets’ rabies vaccinations are up to date.
