Two people attacked by fox in Grovetown; fox tested positive for rabies

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – Two people were attacked by a fox according to Columbia County Animal Services.

According to authorities, the incident happened on Monday, July 1st in the vicinity of Cheryl Ann Drive and Gordon Highway in Grovetown.

According to Columbia County Animal Services, the fox was killed by a property owner and collected by Columbia County Animal Services, and afterwards, the Columbia County Environmental Health sent it to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory in Waycross for rabies testing, in which the test results confirmed the fox was positive for rabies.

Authorities say the victims are receiving post-exposure rabies treatments.

Authorities with Columbia County Animal Services state that this comes after a raccoon encountered pet dogs near the area of Old Anderson Road in Martinez on June 29th.

According to Animal Services, the raccoon was sent to GPHL for rabies testing, and the results confirmed that the raccoon was positive for rabies; however, authorities state those dogs were up to date with their rabies vaccinations.

The Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section recommends the following:

• Make sure your dogs and cats are currently vaccinated against rabies
• Do not let your pets roam free. They are more likely to have contact with a rabid wild animal
• Avoid feeding your animals outside. This draws stray and wild animals to your doorstep
• Teach your children not to approach wild animals and animals they don’t know

The Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section is asking all residents to make sure pets are vaccinated against rabies and to avoid all contact with wild animals and to report any contact of humans and domestic animals with wild animals to Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section office at 706-868-3330 or Columbia County Animal Services at 706-541-4077.

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