In last week's incident, a teenager reported that a fox was "attacking" her car - following it and trying to bite the tires. An unidentified adult then investigated and located the fox. The man shot the fox after the animal showed no fear and instead growled and "came at" the man, Tyson said.
Animal control officers retrieved the fox's body and sent it for testing.
The presence of rabies in Jackson County makes it imperative for pet owners and those who work with animals to take proper precautions, Tyson said. All dogs and cats should be vaccinated for rabies, he said, and livestock such as horses, goats and show animals should be inoculated as well.
Rabies has been present in the adjoining counties of Transylvania and Oconee, S.C., for "years," Tyson said. The current incident is a first for Jackson County except for a rabid bat that bit someone in the Soco area last year. However, Tyson said, because rabies is considered indigenous to area bat populations, that incident was never reported to the public.
Pet owners should avoid feeding animals outside in order to minimize the chance of attracting raccoons and skunks, Tyson said. Wild animals most likely to carry the disease are foxes, raccoons and skunks, but any wild animal that acts in an unusual or abnormal way should be reported to animal control officials by calling 586-6138 immediately, he said.
Dogs and cats need a series of two rabies shots a year apart and then booster shots every three years, Tyson said. State law requires that any unvaccinated animal either be quarantined for six months or euthanized after a bite from a wild or unvaccinated animal, he said.
Bats represent a real threat to humans, Tyson said. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that any bats found inside a residence be tested.
"If you find a bat in your house and you can't rule out contact, then test the bat. You may not know if you've been bitten," Tyson said. Most human deaths from rabies are the result of contact with bats, he said, and stem from instances where the victim did not realize he had been bitten or was bitten while asleep.
Animal control officials are notifying area veterinarians and pediatricians about the confirmed rabies case.
"It's really important that people notify us with regard to any animals that are observed acting abnormally," Tyson said.
Rabies is a viral disease that can infect all mammals. It almost always is fatal. Immediate treatment that includes post-exposure rabies vaccinations can prevent development of the disease.
Rabies vaccinations are available from all licensed veterinarians. To facilitate pet protection, the animal shelter and local vets offer a series of rabies clinics each year. At these clinics, pet owners can have their animals vaccinated without the expense of an office visit.
One such clinic is scheduled this Saturday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cope Creek Animal Clinic. Another will be held Saturday, Oct. 23, from noon until 1 p.m. at Jackson County Veterinary Clinic.
Vaccinate your pet
Rabies clinics for pet vaccinations are scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cope Creek Animal Clinic and on Saturday, Oct. 23, from noon until 1 p.m. at Jackson County Veterinary Clinic