An Alabama woman was bitten by a mad fox According to local reports recently while she was unloading groceries from her car.
The Atmore woman, whose name has not been released, was reportedly holding a loaf of bread when she was “attacked and bitten by a fox out of nowhere,” according to a news release from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH).
The woman, described as “older,” received post-exposure treatment to help prevent rabies infection.
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The fox was taken to the Alabama Department of Public Health Bureau of Clinical Laboratories, where it was tested and found positive for rabies.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies is a viral disease that can be fatal if not treated before symptoms appear.
According to local reports, an Alabama woman was recently bitten by a rabid fox (not pictured). (iStock)
The disease is usually transmitted to humans or pets through the bite or scratch of an infected animal.
“Although rabies has been found primarily in wild animals since widespread vaccination of domestic animals began more than 70 years ago, it continues to be a public health threat,” Alabama Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Dee W. Jones said in the release.
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“While attacks like this by rabid wild animals are relatively uncommon, it highlights the risk that rabies still poses and hopefully reminds people to be aware of the risks and continue to combat these animals. vaccinate their pets.”
The woman (not pictured) was bitten while unloading groceries from her car. (iStock)
In the state of Alabama, owners of dogs, cats, and ferrets 12 weeks of age and older are required by law to have their pets vaccinated against rabies.
“Vaccinating animals reduces the risk of rabies infection if exposure does occur; vaccinations protect animalsand their owners and caregivers,” the press release said.
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The health department also urges people to not let their pets run loose, to properly dispose of food scraps, not to feed or keep wild animals as pets, to stay away from animals that behave strangely and to keep children away from stray or wild animals.
“While attacks like this by rabid wild animals are relatively rare, it does highlight the risk that rabies still poses. Hopefully it will remind people to be aware of the risks and continue to vaccinate their pets,” said a veterinarian. (iStock)
Anyone who has been bitten by an animal or otherwise exposed to rabies should contact a doctor and public health officials.
According to the CDC, approximately 60,000 Americans each year receive medical care after possible exposure to rabies.
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Dr. Marc Siegel, a physician, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News medical contributor, spoke to Fox News Digital about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
“Reliable rabies treatments are available in emergency departments as there is not enough demand to keep vaccinations in every doctor's office or emergency clinic,” he said.
“The treatment consists of a series of vaccinations and rabies immunoglobulin (a medicine that consists of antibodies against the rabies virus),” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“Treatment consists of a series of vaccinations and rabies immunoglobulin (a medicine consisting of antibodies against the rabies virus).”
According to Siegel, effective preventive treatment is nearly 100% successful when done correctly.
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“However, if rabies infection does occur, the chance of fatality is almost 100%,” he warned.
Treatments to prevent rabies can be expensive, however, Siegel noted. In Washington, D.C., the first treatment alone has reportedly cost some patients more than $15,000.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Alabama Department of Public Health for comment.
