Fox Tests Positive For Rabies In Ipswich

IPSWICH, MA – Three residents were bitten by a fox last Saturday before it was killed by a resident who later found it attacking one of his chickens.

The fox tested positive for rabies at the Massachusetts State Laboratory Institute, and the residents are receiving medical treatment. Ipswich Police are warning residents to avoid contact with wild animals, and not to feed or handle them.

Rabies spreads from infected animals to humans when a human is bit, or if the animal's saliva gets in a person's scratch, wound, eye, nose, or mouth. According to a statement from Ipswich Police, the virus causes the brain to swell in warm-blooded victims, and the outcome is often fatal.

It is rare for people in the United States to get rabies. Approximately 55,000 people die from rabies every year around the world, and only one or two of those deaths occur in the United States. However, any possible contact with rabies, including a bite, scratch or exposure to a rabid animal, should be taken seriously.

According to the CDC, the following may be signs or symptoms that an animal may be rabid:

• Lethargy
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Anorexia
• Excessive Salivation (foaming at the mouth)
• Abnormal Behavior
• Aggression
• Ataxia (erratic body movements)
• Weakness or Paralysis
• Seizures
• Difficulty breathing/swallowing
• Self-Mutilation

Seeing a Fox out during the day is generally not an indication of rabies. Foxes are part of the wildlife backdrop of Cape Ann and it is not uncommon to see one. Foxes are not necessarily nocturnal, like raccoons.

"We are taking these cases very seriously, and awareness is our best weapon in this situation," Acting Chief Hubbard said. "Please heed these warnings and seek medical attention if you have come into contact with a fox recently or if you are bitten by a fox or other wild animal."

Tips for avoiding contact with Foxes:

1. If you see a fox in the daytime, it is not usually an indication of rabies. Healthy foxes can generally be out and about during the day. Seeing a fox in the daytime is not an automatic sign of danger, in the way seeing a raccoon in the daytime may be.
2. Foxes are naturally scared of people, so aggression or close approaches should be reported to the Ipswich Police Department.
3. Leash your pets if you know there are foxes in your neighborhood. Small cats and dogs are vulnerable to predatory attacks by a number of animals, including foxes, but if you are walking with your pet on a leash, the chances go down drastically.
4. Don’t leave pet food outside, and cover your trash. Foxes are scavengers, and they look for opportunities. A hungry fox will take food right off your doorstep or right out of your trash barrel.
5. Do not approach or pet foxes or fox pups. Do not feed them.
6. Keep bird feeders off the ground so that they cannot be easily reached. If you start to see foxes regularly, it’s best to remove bird feeders
7. It is illegal to discharge a firearm in populated areas. Do not shoot foxes or fire warning shots in the air.

The Ipswich Department of Public Health also reminds residents to be sure their pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations. Unvaccinated pets pose a significant risk to other animals and people, and may need to be quarantined for a prolonged period, or even euthanized, at the owner’s expense. Dogs and cats that are vaccinated, but have been exposed to animals that are unavailable for rabies testing, may need to receive a booster shot and/or be quarantined.

Questions about domestic animals that have been exposed to rabid animals should be directed to the Ipswich Police Department at 978-356-4343. General inquiries may be made via email to the Ipswich Animal Control Officer at animalcontrol@ipswichpolice.org.

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