Rabid Foxes Invade Yellow Jacket Campus

ATLANTA -- Two Georgia Tech students were injured by a rabid fox last week, and now school officials are asking people to avoid an area near the Molecular Science and Engineering building. After the animal was captured and sent to state officials for testing, the fox tested positive for rabies.

Over the weekend, a fourth student had a similar encounter with a different fox in the same vicinity. This second fox has not yet been captured. Campus officials believe there may be several other foxes and each could carry rabies.

"The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will be dispatching a field officer to assist local animal control officials in the capture and removal of the foxes," the school said. "It is critically important to seek medical treatment after an encounter with a potentially rabid animal. Early symptoms of rabies in humans are non-specific and may include fever, headache, and fatigue. Left untreated the virus can cause difficulty swallowing, paralysis, and even death. These symptoms may never occur or may occur only at the very last stages of the disease."

Image Georgia Tech

Anyone who sees a fox anywhere on campus is asked to contact the Georgia Tech Police Department at 404-894-2500.

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