The Suffolk Health Department has received confirmation that a fox killed by a dog near the Suffolk Post Office tested positive for rabies.

This was the second run-in with a fox in that area within a month’s time.

A 69-year-old woman was bitten by a fox on Day Street on Dec. 26. Later that day, Animal Control officers and police responded to the area again for calls of a fox chasing people and attacking cars. Officers located the fox in a ravine between Day and Church streets and shot it when it charged at them. It was not tested for rabies, because there was no way to know for sure it was the same one that had attacked the woman.

The woman, however, had to begin rabies treatments as a precaution.

Suffolk officials said in December that there have been known cases of rabies in that area.

Exposure of humans to rabies occurs when the saliva of an infected animal enters the body through an open wound or mucous membrane, such as with an animal bite.

“An animal exposure is a serious medical event, for which prompt evaluation and complete treatment is critical,” Dr. Nancy Welch, health director for the Western Tidewater Health District, said in a statement from the Health Department.

“Rabies is highly preventable if the vaccine is given early and as recommended. Unfortunately, without preventive treatment, by the time someone develops symptoms of rabies, there is no cure, and the disease is fatal in almost 100 percent of cases.”

The disease is also fatal in domestic dogs and cats that have not been vaccinated and have been infected.

State law requires that all dogs and cats four months or older must be vaccinated against rabies.

The Health Department also issued a series of suggestions on Friday to help people avoid being exposed to the disease:

• Do not approach wild or stray animals, especially raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, cats and dogs.
• Confine your pets to your property.
• Make sure all garbage containers are properly sealed.
• If your pet has been in contact with an animal that might be rabid, contact Suffolk Animal Control or the Suffolk Health Department immediately.
• Seek medical treatment immediately for any animal bite to ensure appropriate and timely evaluation and treatment.