Friday, March 8, 2013

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW) -- The Richmond County Health Department Environmental Health Section has confirmed that a rabid fox attacked one person and tried to attack another on Feb. 27.

The attack happened at a business in the area of Mike Padgett Highway/Goshen Industrial Boulevard/Doug Bernard Parkway.

The animal was killed before it could attack anyone else.

Lab results later revealed the animal tested positively for rabies.

The victim of the attack has begun treatment and is said to be doing well.

Report any contact of humans with wild animals to the Richmond County Health Department Environmentalist Health Section office at (706) 667-4234 and any contact of pets with wild animals to Augusta Animal Control at (706) 790- 6836.

Facts about rabies:

• Symptoms usually appear between 30 to 50 days after exposure but could appear in as few as 14 days.
  
• There is a direct relationship between how severe the bite is, where the victim is bitten and how long it takes for symptoms to appear.
  
• Symptoms include: tiredness, nausea, sore throat, loss of appetite, stiff muscles, dilation of pupils, increased production of saliva and unusual sensitivity to sound/light/changes in temperatures.

  Click here for more information on rabies.

  ---

  Have information or an opinion about this story? Click here to contact the newsroom.

  ---

  Copyright WRDW-TV News 12. All rights reserved. This material may not be republished without express written permission.