The first case of rabies in 2010 was confirmed last Thursday from a fox in the Columbus area.
Polk County Animal Control officer Michael Herman reports that on Friday, Feb. 26, a fox charged and latched onto the clothes of two adults who were doing clean-up for the Town of Columbus in the Hampton Court area off Houston Road. Results from the state veterinarians office confirmed the fox did have rabies, according to Herman.
The victims began a series of shots upon confirmation because the fox left saliva and bacteria on their clothing.
The fox was euthanized after the attack and sent off for testing. Herman says the fox showed eratic behavior by charging the men and latching onto them, common signs of a rabid animal.
Herman says fox, coyote, skunks, possum and raccoons are very high carriers of the disease.
The last animal confirmed to have rabies in the county was another fox, which was found in December, 2009 in the Golden Road area.
Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain. Rabies is fatal if treatment is not given prior to the onset of severe symptoms. Symptoms include malaise, headache and fever that progresses to pain, violent movement, uncontrolled excitement, depression and hydrophobia. Victims usually end up in a coma and then death from respiratory problems.