For Immediate Release

August 28, 2007                                

Media Contact:  Ildi Hosman

850-595-6272 (office)

Rabid Fox Found in Gonzalez
Residents Bitten by Fox Should Contact Escambia County Health Department

PENSACOLA, FL -- The Escambia County Health Department was notified of one rabid fox in the Gonzalez area of Escambia County, Florida. Individuals who have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal should contact the Escambia County Health Department.  Rabies is fatal to humans and pets. It can be transmitted to humans through a wild animal's saliva from a bite or a minor scratch. Residents are reminded not to interact with wild animals.

To Avoid Rabies from Wild Animals

• The best way to avoid exposure to rabies is to avoid contact with wild animals.

• Keep wild animals such as foxes and raccoons out of the house and yard – do not place feeders in the yard.

• Protect pets by vaccinating them for rabies and keep their shots up-to-date.

• Unsupervised outdoor pets are at risk for exposure to rabies through contact with wild animals.

To Keep Wild Animals Off Your Property

• Eliminate artificial feeding sources - bring in pet food at night, secure trash cans with fasteners or enclose them in lockable bins. 

• Make sure bird feeders are not accessible to wild animals; most squirrel-proof coverings also deter wild animals.  
  

About Rabies
Rabies is a disease that affects the central nervous system. The rabies virus is carried in the saliva of infected animals and is usually transmitted to people and other animals when they are bitten or scratched by the rabid animal. Rabies is fatal to humans and animals.

Report all Animal Bites
Immediately seek medical attention and report the bite to the Escambia County Health Department at 850-595-6700 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or 850-418-5566 after hours and on weekends.  Wild animals may have rabies and can carry rabies without showing any signs of the disease.

Report all Rabid Animals to Animal Control

If you see a suspicious wild animal in your yard or neighborhood, please call animal control at 850-595-3075 during business hours or 850-595-3080 after hours.

If a Dead Wild Animal is on Your Property
Contact the regional office of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at (850) 265-3676 or their 24-Hour law enforcement at (850) 245-7710.