Fox tests positive for rabies in Rankin Inlet
Attacked two domestic dogs in September; Health Department advises residents to be on lookout
The Department of Health is warning people in Baker Lake to be on the lookout for foxes and dogs behaving strangely after foxes attacked two people recently in the community. (File photo)
A fox that attacked two domestic dogs in Rankin Inlet has tested positive for rabies, the Health Department announced Wednesday.
The fox attacked the two dogs on Sept. 23. One dog has been euthanized and the other remains under quarantine and is being monitored for signs of rabies.
Health Department spokesperson Danarae Sommerville advised residents to be on the lookout for foxes in the area.
Domestic animals that spend time tied up outdoors should be monitored for behavioural changes and signs of rabies. These can include staggering, frothing at the mouth, choking or making strange noises.
Animals exhibiting these signs should be avoided and reported to the regional environmental health officer or a conservation officer.
Any person who has been bitten or scratched by a fox or a dog should go to the local health centre and report the incident immediately. As rabies infections are nearly always fatal, treatment must be started quickly after exposure, Sommerville said.
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