FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2008
Greenville County residents advised to be wary of wild animals
COLUMBIA – The public is alerted to be especially wary of wild animals after a report of a fox attack on two Greenville area residents, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control advised today.
"The fox escaped and was last seen in the vicinity of Hudson Road in Greenville," said Sue Ferguson of DHEC's Bureau of Environmental Health. "Foxes can travel many miles in a day so DHEC wants to alert citizens to the dangers posed by wild animals in general and this fox in particular."
Ferguson said the residents are receiving preventive inoculations because anyone bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to the saliva of a rabid animal must undergo immediate measures to stop the virus from reaching the brain. Once the rabies virus reaches the brain, the disease is fatal to humans and animals.
"Avoid wild animals acting tame and tame animals acting wild," Ferguson said. "An animal suffering from rabies might not show the stereotypical signs of foaming at the mouth, but instead might stagger, show little natural fear of humans or be a normally nocturnal animal out in the daytime.
"Never attempt to feed, pet or adopt a wild animal, but if you think you have been exposed to the rabies virus through a bite, scratch or the saliva of a possibly infected animal, immediately wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water," she said. "Then be sure to get medical attention and report the incident to DHEC."
In 2007, there were 162 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in South Carolina. For more information about rabies, see DHEC's Web page at: http://www.scdhec.gov/rabies or contact DHEC’s Greenville County Environmental Health office at (864) 282-4146. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web page about rabies can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies.
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For more information:
Clair Boatwright – (803) 898-4461
E-mail – boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov
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