Arviat residents urged to look out for foxes after possible rabies exposure
Anybody who has been bitten by a fox or a dog asked to report incident to the health centre
Residents in Arviat, Nunavut, are advised to be on the lookout for signs of rabies after a fox was found acting abnormally.
In a news release Tuesday, Nunavut’s Health department said the fox made contact with dogs, though there was no human contact and the fox was euthanized and sent for testing.
Due to the risk of exposure to rabies, the department is asking all residents to be on the lookout for foxes in and around the community. Anybody who has been bitten by a fox or a dog should go to the local health centre and report the incident immediately.
The department warned that treatment must be started quickly after exposure “as rabies infections are almost always fatal.”
The department said domestic animals that spend time tied up outdoors should be monitored for signs of rabies. These include frothing at the mouth, strange noises, staggering or other strange behaviour.
If your dog was bitten or attacked by a fox, call the environmental health officer at 867-983-5241 or the conservation officer at 867-857-2976.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Caribou in Coral Harbour, Nunavut, tests positive for rabies, CBC News
Norway: Could drones help prevent polar bear attacks on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard?, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: Polar bear in fatal Wales attack was in poor health, The Associated Press
