(John Ransom, Headline USA) A fox that bit two people at the Capitol in DC, and was later euthanized, was found to have had rabies.
Day 1: LOL a fox on Capitol Hill. How cute?! ❤️🦊❤️
Day 2: The fox has bitten a number of people, including Members of Congress
Day 3: We have captured the fox😢
Day 4: The fox has been executed. Also, it had rabies.
Day 5: 😬😬😬
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) April 6, 2022
“The DC Public Health lab has confirmed the fox that was captured yesterday tested positive for the rabies virus. DC Health is contacting all human victims who were bitten by the fox,” the department said in a statement, according to NBC News.
Politico reporter Ximena Bustillo and Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., both were bitten by the fox, which apparently attacked Bera, despite his vigorous use of an umbrella to ward off the rabid animal.
“It was the most bizarre day in Congress,” Bera said.
There’s no actual cure for rabies once an infection takes hold—that’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a rabies vaccine.
Baring the vaccine there are some painful shots that often work, including “a fast-acting shot (rabies immune globulin) to prevent the virus from infecting you,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
“This is given if you haven’t had the rabies vaccine,” said the clinic. “This injection is given near the area where the animal bit you if possible, as soon as possible after the bite.”
Bera reportedly received such a shot following his exposure after the fox bit through his pant leg.
Several publications including Slate.com wondered aloud whether a fox could first be anesthetized and not euthanized to test for rabies.
“Couldn’t they have tranquilized the fox, and tested it, while it was still alive,” asked Slate.
In a word: no.
In order to be tested for rabies, the fox first had to be euthanized, a not uncommon practice for an animal that has been aggressive with humans.
In order to test for rabies brain tissues have to be analyzed in a lab, reported the Washington Post.
The DC Health Department said that there were nine confirmed biting incidents with the fox, however anybody who came in contact with the fox or came in contact with anything that had saliva from the fox would be at risk for rabies.
No announcement yet if the Democrats are calling on an April 6 committee to investigate area foxes, or Donald Trump’s involvement.
