Chatham County health officials are urging anyone who may have handled a fox behind the Bojangles on U.S. 64 in Siler City to get checked out immediately, after reports of the animal acting strangely sparked a public health warning. Animal Resources officers responded to the scene, and the county is blunt about the next step: if you touched or otherwise came into contact with that fox, you should head to a hospital emergency department for post-exposure rabies treatment without delay. Public Health Director Mike Zelek underscored that rabies is fatal if it is not treated in time and thanked Bojangles staff and nearby businesses for helping during the incident.
In a March 5 statement posted via Chatham County, officials said the fox has not been captured or tested and that it came into contact with a person near a dumpster behind the Bojangles on Highway 64. The county message urges anyone who handled the fox to seek post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) at an emergency department as soon as possible. The post also provides phone numbers for Animal Resources and the public health department for residents who have questions or need guidance.
What officials are advising
According to the CDC, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms show up, but timely post-exposure prophylaxis can stop the virus if it is started quickly. Cleaning any wounds right away and getting rapid medical evaluation are critical steps. CDC guidance explains that PEP typically includes a dose of human rabies immune globulin along with a series of rabies vaccine shots given on a schedule that clinicians determine for each patient. In North Carolina, the N.C. State Laboratory of Public Health handles testing of suspect animals, while local health departments work with clinicians and families on risk assessments and PEP decisions.
Local resources and where to go
The county’s alert lists several key contacts for residents who are worried about possible exposure. Animal Resources can be reached at 919-542-7203, the public health contact line is 919-548-4549, and there is an after-hours line at 919-545-1759, according to the county announcement. Chatham County also reminded residents not to approach wildlife and to make sure their pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations. For in-person help, the Siler City Public Health Clinic is located at 1000 S. 10th Ave., with a clinic phone number of 919-742-5641, as listed on the Chatham County Public Health Department’s clinic page.
Rabies in Chatham County and protecting pets
Rabies cases continue to pop up from time to time in local wildlife, with recent reports involving animals like skunks and foxes in Chatham County. Coverage from Chapelboro has noted prior rabies-positive wildlife in the area, which is why officials keep stressing two basic rules: vaccinate your pets and avoid contact with wild animals. Pet owners who think their animals might have been exposed are advised to call Animal Resources or their veterinarian to discuss quarantine requirements and possible booster shots.
Residents who believe they were exposed to the fox behind Bojangles are urged to call Chatham County Animal Resources or the public health clinic right away and to seek evaluation at the nearest emergency department. The county has posted contact information and guidance online. For county contact details and clinic hours, see the Chatham County Public Health Department’s Siler City clinic page.
