Alabama public well being officers are urging residents to replace their pet’s vaccinations after a fox that attacked an Atmore girl whereas she was unloading her groceries examined optimistic for rabies.The Alabama Division of Public Well being stories that the girl was coming back from grocery procuring and unloading her car when, whereas holding a loaf of bread and “seemingly out of nowhere,” she was attacked and bitten by a fox.The fox was taken to a Well being Division laboratory the place it examined optimistic for rabies. The viral illness may be deadly if untreated, however the Well being Division notes that the girl has obtained appropriation medical consideration and post-exposure prophylaxis.“Though rabies is primarily present in wild animal since widespread vaccination of home animals started over 70 years in the past, it continues to be a public well being menace,” mentioned Dr. Dee Jones, State Public Well being veterinarian. “Though assaults corresponding to this by rabid wildlife are moderately unusual, it highlights the chance rabies continues to pose and hopefully reminds folks to concentrate on the dangers and proceed to vaccinate their pets.”It’s uncommon for folks to get bitten by rabid foxes, however incidences do happen. Essentially the most notable assaults had been in 2018 in Baldwin County, after folks reporting recognizing foxes displaying erratic conduct as they puzzled the fast-growing county. The state reported 13 instances of rabies in foxes that yr, with 5 confirmations in Baldwin County.To this point this yr, there have been 13 optimistic rabies exams general, with 5 every coming from foxes and raccoons. Final yr, there have been 38 animals who examined optimistic for rabies in Alabama, with 20 occurring to raccoons and two to foxes.The yr with probably the most rabies confirmations in Alabama over the previous decade was 2015, when there have been a reported 83 instances. Of these 53 had been raccoons, 13 bats and eight foxes.Alabama state regulation requires that canines, cats and ferrets 12 weeks and older be present with rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccines are additionally obtainable for horses and different livestock if really helpful by a veterinarian.Rabies vaccination is multi-faceted, based on the Well being Division. It includes folks taking precautions with wildlife, ensuring pets are present on rabies vaccines, and at all times reporting an animal chunk or different exposures to their medical supplier and the ADPH.As well as, the ADPH offers the next recommendation to decrease publicity to rabies:Don’t enable pets to run free; confine inside a fenced-in space or with a leash.Don’t go away uneaten pet meals or scraps close to your residence.Don’t illegally feed or preserve wildlife as pets.Do no go close to wildlife or home animals which are appearing in a wierd or uncommon method.Warning kids to not go close to a stray or wild animal, no matter its conduct.