Officials: Fox That Attacked Lakewood Girl Had Rabies

A fox that bit and scratched a four-year-old Lakewood girl on Saturday has been found to have had rabies, the Ocean County Health Department announced late Tuesday.

The test results on the fox, which was ultimately shot dead by police after it attempted to attack officers, came back Tuesday, officials said.

"After the fox was captured, it was sent to the New Jersey Public Health Environmental and Agricultural Laboratory for testing," said Daniel E. Regenye, the Ocean County Health Department's Public Health Coordinator. "Results we received this morning show that the fox was positive for rabies."

Regenye said foxes are normally afraid of people and shy away from them, and "attacking someone without provocation certainly gave us concern that it was rabid."

Rabies prophylaxis for the young victim was begun immediately which will continue for 14 days, Regenye said.

So far, during 2013, a total of 14 animals have tested positive for rabies within Ocean County, officials said. Those animals include six raccoons, two bats, one cat, three skunks and two foxes.

The actual number of rabid animals in the county is likely "much higher," Regenye said, since the testing of animals for rabies is generally limited to those which have exposed a resident or domestic pets.

A dead bat found in a home in Atlantic County's Galloway Township tested positive for rabies last week. It was the fourth confirmed case of rabies in Atlantic County this year.

In Cape May County's Ocean City, the red fox population is on the rise, but no case of rabies has been reported.

"Any strange-acting animal could have rabies," said Jennifer Crawford, OCHD Supervisor of Communicable Disease. "Anyone that finds a wild or homeless animal acting strangely or aggressively should avoid contact with the animal and notify the local animal control officer or local police department, describing the animal and its location."

The names of local animal control officers for municipalities in Ocean County can be found on the OCHD website on the resources page, or obtained by calling 732-341-9700, ext. 7515.

Leslie Terjensen, the OCHD public information officer, urged residents to provide their pets with rabies shots, even if they usually do not go outdoors. Residents should also store trash in animal-proof containers and screen off attic vents to prevent bats from entering.

The department provides periodic rabies vaccine clinics for pets, Terjensen said.

Residents bitten by an animal should also report it to OCHD, she said, by calling 732-341-9700, ext. 7515.