Waleska (GA) – A Waleska couple was recently attacked by a fox that has now tested positive for rabies.

Cherokee County Environmental Health officials said the fox attacked the couple on Sunday, July 12 as they were in the yard of their home located off Chickasaw Drive in the Lake Arrowhead area. The woman was scratched on her leg and the man was bitten.

The fox was shot and animal control collected the body, which was picked up by environmental health staff on the following Monday and shipped to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for testing.

The laboratory reported on Wednesday, July 15 that the fox was positive for rabies.

Meanwhile, following health officials’ recommendations, the couple has begun post-exposure rabies treatment.

Health officials continue to advise residents to be wary of unfamiliar animals, wild or tame, that exhibit unusual behavior and report them to animal control or the county environmental health office.

The public is also urged to report to them any attacks or bites by a stray or wild animal.

If bitten, individuals are advised to thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water, and seek immediate medical attention. If a pet is bitten, the owner should seek veterinary assistance for the animal right away.  The health care provider and/or the veterinarian will need to know the following to assess the risk of rabies exposure:

• The geographic location of the incident

• The type of animal that was involved

• How the exposure occurred (provoked or unprovoked)

• The vaccination status of the animal

• Whether the animal can be safely captured and tested for rabies

Additionally, make sure all pets are kept current on rabies vaccinations.

For more information about rabies and its prevention, contact the local county environmental health office or log on to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/features/rabiessafefamily.