YORKTOWN – A fox demonstrating
aggressive behavior attacked three people in Yorktown over the weekend
and the animal, which remains at large, is believed to be rabid.
The first attack occurred at 6 a.m. on Saturday when a jogger was bitten
by a fox on Lee Boulevard. A second man was bitten in his backyard on
North Deerfield Road at 8:30 a.m. and on Sunday at 12:30 p.m., a woman
was bitten in her backyard.
All three people are receiving preventive rabies treatment.
The county health department used robo-calls to notify nearby residents.
“Stay alert and closely supervisor children and pets when outside,”
said Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler. “If you see a fox stay
away from it and contact local police immediately.”
Unusual behavior may be the first sign of rabies in an animal. A rabid
animal may become either abnormally aggressive or unusually tame. It may
lose fear of people and become excited and irritable, or, conversely appear
particularly passive and lethargic. Staggering and frothing at the mouth
are sometimes noted.
Any physical contact with a wild or unfamiliar animal should be reported
to a health care provider. All animal bites or contacts with animals suspected
of having rabies must be reported to the county health department at 914-813-5000,
24 hours a day.
Keeping pet rabies vaccinations up to dateis also important to protect
against rabies.
