A startling video of a fox assault in upstate New York surfaced on-line this week. The footage, which gave the impression to be recorded by house surveillance cameras and is timestamped July 25, exhibits a lady warding off the animal because it repeatedly assaults her within the entrance yard of her house in Ithaca.
The soundless clip spans roughly 45 seconds. At its begin, the girl is seen standing close to a driveway with a cellphone to her ear when the fox runs up from behind and latches onto her leg. The lady makes an attempt to kick and shake the animal off of her a number of instances. A person then runs over carrying a big stick, and as he approaches the fox, it runs away.
Ed Russo, a meteorologist at CBS Harrisburg affiliate WHP-TV, shared the video on social media not too long ago and recognized the girl as his cousin. He stated the fox examined constructive for rabies after it was ultimately caught and euthanized.
"A cousin of mine was attacked by a rabid fox in Ithaca, NY," he tweeted on Tuesday. "She's OK. However geez this video is loopy!"
Russo shared the video with the same message on Fb across the similar time. He later defined within the submit's feedback part that the girl "sought medical consideration instantly" following the assault and was "handled appropriately."
"She did all the pieces proper," Russo wrote, reiterating that his relative "is OK." He stated the fox that attacked her almost did the identical to a different individual quickly after the incident occurred, however was caught in time.
Russo didn't instantly return CBS Information' request for remark.
Foxes are considered one of a number of species that carry rabies mostly within the U.S., though they account for fewer circumstances than different wild animals like bats, raccoons and skunks, in accordance to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. The well being company's pointers state that overly aggressive habits in considered one of these animals, or, much less incessantly, a pet, could be a signal of rabies, however there are a variety of signs.
Whereas the virus originates in animals, it will probably unfold to people by bites or scratches and infects the central nervous system. Rabies may be deadly if the illness reaches the mind, however it's often treatable so long as remedy is given shortly after publicity. Well being officers suggest vaccinating all home pets towards rabies to cut back the dangers of unfold.
The CDC tracked rabies circumstances and their geographic areas for a number of years, and revealed annual reviews till 2018. On the time, knowledge confirmed that foxes with rabies had been present in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Nevertheless, at the very least one rabid fox has been reported in Ithaca. In 2018, a fox that bit a number of individuals and pets at Ithaca Faculty examined constructive for rabies, in keeping with the Ithaca Voice.
In a extra excessive profile incident that occurred in Washington, D.C., this previous spring, a rabid fox was captured and euthanized after it bit 9 individuals on Capitol Hill.