A fox in Glen Alpine that Burke County Animal Control officers euthanized last week tested positive for rabies, says Lt. Steve Massey.
The Glen Alpine Police Department received a call concerning a fox acting aggressively toward people in a yard, Massey said.
Animal Control received the positive test results Monday.
Massey said Animal Control only dealt with one positive case of rabies last year – a raccoon in Morganton.
"Rabies is in the county," he warned. "Wildlife has had it for about the last six or seven years."
State law requires all pets four months old or older to have a rabies vaccination, Massey said. If unvaccinated pets come into contact with a suspect animal, then the pet must be quarantined for six months or euthanized.
The rabies vaccination is the safest way to keep both pets and family members safe, Burke County Health Department Director David Rust said.
"With springtime coming up and folks' being outside more, folks need to be cautious about wild animals, particularly skunks, raccoons and foxes," Rust said. Feral cats and dogs unfamiliar to the family should be avoided, too.
Rabies shows symptoms similar to other diseases, Massey said, and only testing the animal can show if it has rabies. He said signs include strange or abnormal behavior and unusual aggressiveness.
"Most of the time, wild animals will want to avoid human contact," Rust said. "They are naturally afraid of humans."
In addition to vaccinating animals, Massey said people should lock up pets at night and should not leave scrap food or bowls of food outside. Those items attract wildlife.
Rust said anyone who is exposed to a wild animal and is bitten should wash the wound with soap and water and go to the emergency room or a doctor immediately.
"As long as it's a bite, then the possibility of rabies is there and you need to see a doctor as soon as possible," Rust said.
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