Rabid Foxes On The Rise In Arizona

Published: Monday, December 25, 2017 - 8:07am

Coconino County health officials have issued a rabies warning after a fox that attacked a worker in Oak Creek Canyon tested positive for the infectious disease.

Spokesman Randy Phillips said the worker is being treated, but people in the area should be cautious.

“He [the worker] was able to ward off the attack and recover the animal which we then sent to the Arizona State Department of Health Services state lab and it came back positive for rabies," Phillips said.

Phillips said 30 foxes have tested positive for rabies in eight counties around the state this year compared to five cases last year.

Science