Rabies confirmed in Grant County fox

Another confirmed case of rabies has been found in Grant County. The New Mexico Department of Health confirmed Thursday that a fox found about 10 miles south of Glenwood, near the Catron County line, tested positive for rabies. A calf from Socorro County was also confirmed to have rabies. The calf was from a ranch about 10 miles east of Datil. So far in 2009, 20 animals have tested positive for rabies in New Mexico. In 2008 there were 28 cases of rabies in New Mexico, including 18 foxes and one dog in the southwestern part of the state. In Grant County, 14 foxes and one dog were found to have rabies. Two rabid foxes were found in Catron County and one fox each in Sierra and Hidalgo Counties. So far this year, Grant County has had six foxes, two bobcats and a coyote test positive for rabies, while Socorro County had a bat from near Dusty test positive for rabies in July. Fox rabies has been a problem in Arizona for decades and was first discovered in New Mexico in the Glenwood area of Catron County in 2007. The fox had tussled with a dog, Ettestad said, but fortunately the dog was up to date on its rabies vaccination. Now, all the owners have to do is to get their pet an extra dose of medication and quarantine it at home for 45 days. New Mexico state law requires that an unvaccinated dog that comes into contact with a rabid animal be euthanized, or be put into strict quarantine for six months...read more