CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A rabid fox was found in Chesapeake earlier this week.
The Chesapeake Health Department said the fox approached a resident near Mount Pleasant Road on Monday.
Testing confirmed the fox was rabies positive and the resident is now undergoing post-exposure medical attention.
The health department is asking the community to avoid contact with wildlife in the area and make sure all pets and livestock are current on vaccinations.
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. Health officials said it kills almost any mammal or human that gets sick from it.
The rabies virus is mainly in the saliva and brain of rabid animals. It can be transmitted through a bite or getting saliva or brain tissue in a wound, eye, nose, or mouth.
It's important to keep your pets vaccinated and avoid any contact with wild animals.
For more information on rabies, contact the Chesapeake Health Department at (757) 382-8672 or Animal Control at (757) 382-8080 or log onto the Virginia Department of Health’s website or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
