What’s worse than the coronavirus? Rabies gets our vote.
Morris Township issued this alert on Thursday:
On Nov. 7, 2020, a fox in the area of Old Mendham Road and Valley View Road was found to be carrying the Rabies Virus.
If you or your pet had any contact with this animal, please contact the Health Department at 973-326-7390 or your physician.
Rabies is a preventable, fatal disease found in the saliva of infected domestic and wild animals. Common carriers of the virus are raccoons, skunks, foxes, woodchucks, bats, and feral (stray) cats.
You are advised to stay away from wild animals and animals that you do not know. DO NOT FEED STRAY ANIMALS. Do not make pets of wild animals. Be certain that your cat or dog is properly vaccinated and up to date on rabies vaccinations.
If you or your pet are exposed (either bitten or scratched) by any suspected animal, act promptly. Immediately wash the bite wound with soap and water, and call your doctor and the Health Department. If your pet is exposed, contact the Health Department and your Veterinarian.
The alert is from the Morris Township Health Department. We defer to its expertise regarding this extremely dangerous disease.
Please correct this article. Feral cats as you call them are NOT carriers of rabies. They can get it from an infected animal if the they are in contact with the saliva of an infected animal. The only vector species on your list is the fox and bats. Your comment and article are very irresponsible and was not throughly researched. You will have people fearful of these creatures which may cause harm to them. If you are going to write an article on rabies and how its contracted do your due diligence!
Lisa, take it easy. The article is just relaying what Morris Township said in an email. Jeez.
Irresponsible reporting at its finest. Know the actual truth before you put something in print that will ultimately cause people to be fearful of and cruel to these beautiful animals!
Foxes AREN’T dangerous to humans, except when they are rabid, which is VERY RARE. Although foxes sometimes succumb to rabies, the good news is that the fox strain of the disease has rarely if ever been transmitted to a human in this country. Luckily, post-exposure treatment is 100% effective if promptly administered.
Getting rabies will ruin your day