First 2014 Confirmed Case of Rabies in Oregon Reported

A fox found near a residence in Junction City has tested positive for rabies. It’s the first confirmed Oregon case of an animal with the disease this year.  Lane County Public Health says this is the first report of a rabid fox in Lane County since the 1960’s. The animal was tested and confirmed for rabies at the O-S-U Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Corvallis. Rabies, endemic in the bat population, is only rarely seen in foxes, especially in the U.S. It’s a viral disease, carried in the saliva of an infected animal, transmitted when the animal bites. It affects the nervous system of humans and animals, and is almost 100 percent fatal once symptoms begin. Health authorities caution that one in ten bats tested each year have rabies. They recommend not handling bats with bare hands, and keeping pets’ rabies immunizations up to date. If bitten by a bat, thoroughly clean the bite with soap and water and seek medical attention.