title: Rabid foxes, rabid raccoons, and the odds of a human bite exposure, New York State, 1999-2007.
abstract: Anecdotal evidence suggests that rabid foxes are more likely to attack humans than are other rabid terrestrial animals. To examine this issue, we analyzed rabies surveillance data (1999-2007) maintained by the New York State Department of Health. Compared to rabid raccoons (Procyon lotor), foxes infected with raccoon variant rabies were more likely to bite during a human exposure incident (P<0.01). Additionally, rabid gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were significantly more likely to bite a human than were rabid red foxes (Vulpes vulpes; P<0.01). Animal control personnel and others who handle wildlife should be educated about the increased risk of bite exposure when dealing with potentially rabid foxes.
authors.affiliation: Yale Emerging Infections Program, 1 Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA. Kimberly.Yousey-Hindes@yale.edu
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yousey-Hindes
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Millicent
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eidson
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rudd
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trimarchi
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cherry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005589:Foxes; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D011821:Raccoons; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary; D015047:Zoonoses