Fox that Attacked Lakewood Girl Infected with Rabies

New Jersey officials have confirmed that the fox that attack a four-year-old Lakewood girl last week had rabies, but the family already was set decided not to take any chances and began a series of injections against the disease.

“Foxes are normally afraid and shy of people and its behavior, attacking someone without provocation, certainly gave us concern that it was rabid. Rabies prophylaxis was begun immediately which will continue for 14 days,” Orange County health official Daniel E. Regenye told New Jersey’s 101.5 news station.

The girl was saved from a more vicious attack thanks to an unidentified bystander, who kicked the fox away after it lightly wounded the girl.

A police officer who responded to the incident was forced to shoot and kill the fox when it attacked him and an animal control official.