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A woman was attacked by a rabid fox in Virginia, being the second attack in under one week.
Laurie Vena was attacked on May 9 in the 5100 block of S. 12th Road in Arlington County. She was taking out the trash right in front of her town home when she was confronted by the deranged creature.
"I saw that is was ambling this way; kinda looked funny, drunk and staggering."
The wild animal was too fast and it quickly attached its jaw to her pant leg and with its sharp claws, scratching her ankle.
"I had a cup of water in my hand and I dumped the water on it and tried to kick it off of me. I was screaming at the top of my lungs, of course."
Next door neighbor Pedro Tobar heard the desperate cry for help and came to her rescue with an oil can. "First thing I tried to do was throw my can of oil at it. The fox ran away from her, but just a few seconds later, the fox came back to attack her again," said Tobar.
The fox went on to scratch her other leg and eventually ran off and hid under a vehicle until animal control arrived.
The fox tested positive for rabies, Arlington public health officials confirmed. The fox was captured and killed by animal control officers. "It could have been anybody; little kids and that's the scariest thing," said Vena
Vena, who just gave birth three weeks ago, has already taken five of her seven required rabies shots at the hospital. She was told to stop nursing for at least a day. Overall, doctors said she was very fortunate. "If you actually contract the disease, it is fatal, so it's very serious."
County administrators are advising residents to be on the look out for other rabid wild animals, possibly even another fox.
Days later, a Fredericksburg woman was mowing her lawn when she was attacked. The fox left behind multiple marks on her hands and several bites on both of her legs. A neighbor saw her laying on the ground and came to help her out.
The Arlington County Public Health Division is working with the Arlington Animal Welfare League and local organizations to find out if any other people or animals may have been exposed.
Arlington Public Health says rabies is endemic in the area and reminds residents to never approach or handle a wild animal. If you see one behaving in a strange or aggressive manner, the Animal Welfare League wants you to call them at 703-931-9241.
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