Morris Plains Resident Bit By Fox: PD

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ — A Morris Plains resident was bitten by a fox Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The attack happened on Brook Drive South, following reports of a sick animal in the surrounding area, police said. Representatives from the state Division of Fish and Game are responding to help police track the animal.

Residents are asked to report any sightings to the police department, and be careful when going outdoors.

Foxes can carry rabies, a deadly virus can attack the central nervous system. Some of the symptoms of rabies in a fix include unprovoked aggression, impaired movement, paralysis or lack of coordination, unusually friendly behavior and disorientation.

Rabies can be treated in humans, if a vaccine is given before symptoms start. Between 2017 and 2019, about 55,000 Americans were treated for potential rabies exposure, the CDC says. There are about one to three rabies deaths a year in America; most cases of rabies, fatal or not, are transmitted by bats.