July 29, 2022
Media Contact: Linda Scarborough, linda.scarborough@vdh.virginia.gov
Pittsylvania-Danville Health District Continues Investigation of Rabid Fox Attacks
Nearby Residents Encouraged to Keep Pets Home During Trapping Operations
(Danville, Va.) – As part of its continuing investigation into several recent attacks on people by a rabid fox in the area of Mount Cross Road and Tyler Avenue in Danville, the Pittsylvania-Danville Health District has recommended trapping other potentially rabid animals in those areas. Those animals, including feral cats, raccoons, possums, and skunks may have been exposed to rabies, and pose a continuing threat to people and pets in the area. Trapping the animals is a public health measure to prevent the spread of rabies by removing from the public any animals that were exposed to the rabid fox.
Local animal control officers are in the process of trapping the animals and taking them to the Danville Area Humane Society, where they will be housed in a separate area. They will be observed for 10 days, after which they will be sent to the state laboratory in Richmond for further analysis.
Pet owners in the neighborhoods in the area of Mount Cross Road and Tyler Avenue are encouraged to keep their cats and other animals indoors until the trapping is completed in approximately three weeks. If you believe that your missing pet may have been captured in a trap at the site, please contact the Danville Area Humane Society at 434-799-5306.
Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that is 100% fatal if contracted. Any incident in which a person has been bitten or scratched by an animal, or exposed to the animal’s saliva should be reported to the local health department right away, in order to determine any risk of rabies exposure and recommendations for public health and medical follow up. Any incident in which a pet or other domestic animal is attacked or bitten by a wild animal should also be reported. If you think you may have been exposed to the fox or any other animal near Mount Cross Road or Tyler Avenue in Danville, contact the Pittsylvania-Danville Health Department at (434) 766-9828.
For additional information, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-epidemiology/animal-contact-human-health/.
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