ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. — A 7-year-old girl was attacked by a rabid fox in Alamance County Monday, according to the health department.
The Alamance County Sheriff's Office said it happened near Gilliam Church Road in Elon.
A family of five was exposed to rabies after the fox tested positive at a state lab.
WFMY News 2 reached out to the mother of the child who was attacked. She said the fox bit at her daughter's cowboy boots while her 3-year-old son was nearby. She said her son didn't get attacked or injured. However, she said her daughter suffered from a minor injury as the fox attempted to bite through her boots.
The mother and father said they had to kill the fox to get it off their daughter from what appeared to be a large knife.
The sheriff's office is warning anyone in the area to be cautious against any strays. They also set a trap out for a stray cat in the area.
If anyone is concerned about possible exposure, they are urged to call the on-call communicable disease nurse at 336-516-7715.
If any animal bites you:
- Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
- Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control. If the animal is someone's pet, also get the owner's name and address. Give this information to animal control or the health department.
- Do not try to catch any wild or stray animals.
For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccination requirements, contact the health department's environmental health office at (336) 570-6367.
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