SANTA FE: The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed that a fox from Catron County near Reserve, NM tested positive for rabies on Friday, February 11. This is the first positive fox rabies case in New Mexico for 2022. The fox was submitted to the state public health laboratory in Albuquerque after it bit a person, and that individual is receiving post bite treatment. 

Avoiding contact with wild animals by allowing them to maintain a safe distance away from people will protect the ecosystem, your family, pets, and livestock by reducing the chance of a bite from a rabid animal. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be prevented, but not cured. 

Tips to help your community avoid exposure: 

• Keep an eye on pets when outdoors. Bring them inside at night, when wild animals are more likely to be present.

• Don't leave pet food or scraps outside. Keep outdoor garbage cans tightly sealed.
• Do not attempt to feed, approach, or touch wild animals (alive or dead). Teach this important message to your children. 
• Pets should be up-to-date on rabies vaccinations, microchipped, and wear current license tags on their collars.
• If your cat or dog has been bitten or scratched, call your pet’s veterinarian, even if the wound is superficial.
• Horses and other livestock should be considered for rabies vaccination to protect them from rabid animals that may attack them. 
• If you or a loved-one are bitten by an animal, or come into contact with an animal’s saliva, wash the exposed site immediately with soap and water for 10- 15 minutes and seek medical care. 

Call the NNDOH hotline (24/7) at 505-827-0006 for recommendations about receiving rabies exposure protective vaccination.