Rabid fox bites pregnant woman in China Grove

Wednesday, October 07, 2009 3:00 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend | By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

A pregnant woman who was bitten by a fox in China Grove Saturday is receiving post-exposure rabies shots.

Vanessa Truong of Harrisburg was in the backyard of the photographer she and her husband, Hai, hired to take maternity pictures when she was attacked by a rabid fox.

The fox bit Vanessa, who is nine months pregnant, before she had time to react.

Rowan County Animal Control reports the Truongs' incident as the 18th rabies case of the year.

"The fox came up beside me. My husband saw it," she said.

As her husband asked the photographer if the dog belonged to her, the fox had already punctured the top of Vanessa's foot.

Vanessa had two teeth marks where she was punctured and a gash.

The Truongs believe Hai was scratched when he tried to fend the fox off Vanessa, but he was not bitten. His wound was not as significant.

"I was in such shock. He'd already bit into me," Vanessa said.

Hai repeatedly kicked the fox, it backed up and then attacked Vanessa again.

The fox, seemingly injured, ran off.

The couple has to receive a round of post-exposure rabies shots. They have already been given several at the wound site.

They will also have to receive a shot in the arm and two in the hip.

All total, they have to receive four more shots, Vanessa said.

The photographer's husband later shot the fox. The fox was submitted for testing on Tuesday and returned with positive results the following day.

"It's scary, and being pregnant that makes it twice as scary," she said.

Vanessa has been talking with her doctor about any negative effects the vaccines may have on the baby. There is no indication that the vaccine will harm her baby.

The whole ordeal has made Vanessa wary.

"I'm definitely more cautious about going outside," she said. So is her husband.

She hopes others will be just as cautious and look before going out into the yard.

On Sept. 30, Tom Huffman found a dead skunk in his dog lot with his five dogs.

The dogs, all Chihuahua mix, were not current on their rabies vaccinations and were held in quarantine at the Animal Shelter.

Test results for the skunk returned Oct. 1 were positive for rabies.

This is the 17th case of rabies reported for the year.

All dogs were euthanized per owner's request, according to Animal Control.

It costs more than $2,000 to quarantine a dog.

Huffman declined comment.