Rabid fox attacks in Augusta - WFXG FOX54 Augusta - Your News One Hour Earlier

It has been reported to the Richmond County Health Department Environmental Health Section and Augusta Animal Services that a fox attacked one individual at a local business and tried to attack another individual before being killed last Wednesday, February 27, 2013.

The dead animal was picked up by Augusta Animal Services personnel and taken to a local animal hospital. Officials from the Richmond County Health Department Environmental Health Section then sent the animal off to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for testing. 

The Environmental Section was notified by phone Thursday, March 7, 2013 that the animal had tested positive for rabies.  The victim of the attack, upon advisement, contacted their primary care provider and has begun treatment for rabies and is doing well.

Mr. Randy Wishard, Environmental Health County Manager, states, " environmental officials will began today notifying businesses in the Mike Padgett/Goshen Industrial Blvd/ Doug Bernard Pkwy area of what happened, and will ask them to report any human-to-wild animals contact to Richmond County Health Department and any pets-to- wild animals contact to the Augusta Animal Services."

Rabies is an acute and deadly viral infection of the central nervous system, which can also involve the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.  When symptoms do appear, it is usually 30 to 50 days following exposure.  There is a direct relationship between how severe the bite is and where on the body the person bitten and how long it takes for symptoms to appear. Symptoms could appear in as few as 14 days.  The following are symptoms of Rabies:

• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Sore throat
• Loss of appetite

Other early symptoms include:

• Stiff muscles
• Dilation (enlargement) of pupils of the eye
• Increased production of salvia
• Unusual sensitivity to sound, light and changes of temperature

The Environmental Section is asking all residents of the district to make sure your pets are inoculated against rabies and to avoid all contact with stray animals.  In addition, report any contact of humans with wild animals to Richmond County Health Department Environmentalist Health Section office at 706-667-4234 and any contact of pets with wild animals to Augusta Animal Control at 706-790- 6836.

For additional information on rabies refer to these websites:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration- www.fda.gov

World Health Organization- www.who.int

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- www.cdc.govncidod/dvrd/rabies