Louisa County Animal Control and Blue Ridge Health District Advise Community of Rabid Fox

March 31, 2022

(Louisa, Va.) – The Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) and the Louisa County Animal Control are notifying the public of a rabid gray fox found in the area of Paddock Wood Road Route 686 (off of Columbia Rd., Route 615),  on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The fox was sent for rabies testing and the results came back positive on March 31, 2022.

Louisa County Animal Control is alerting the community that anyone who may have received a bite or scratch, or were otherwise exposed to the saliva from a fox on or around March 29 near Paddock Wood Road Route 686 (off of Columbia Rd., Route 615) should call the Louisa County Environmental Health office at 540-967-3707 to report your potential rabies exposure.

Rabies is a deadly disease that is 100 percent fatal in humans and animals once symptoms begin but can be prevented with treatment if the proper treatment begins immediately after exposure.

Take these steps to protect families and pets from exposure to rabies:

• Vaccinate pets. Virginia law requires domestic animals to be vaccinated against rabies.
• Avoid contact with wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, or stray cats and dogs;
• Do not feed wild animals or stray cats and dogs;
• Report stray animals to your local animal control agency;
• Eliminate outdoor food sources around the home; and
• Keep pets confined to your property or walk them on a leash.

For more information, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-epidemiology/animal-contact-human-health or call the Louisa County Environmental Health office at 540-967-3707.