The fox that bit a toddler playing outside of his Cameron Park home last Thursday has tested positive for rabies, the El Dorado County Health Services Department said.
Department representative Margaret Williams said a resident reported finding a dead fox Tuesday evening in the area where the fox had bitten the 3-year-old boy.
Animal services workers went to the location and picked up the deceased animal. The child's caregiver positively identified the fox as the same one that bit the boy.
The child is recovering and is receiving vaccine to prevent rabies, the health department said.
"This situation is clearly a reminder that we live in a rural county where wildlife are present, and that we have to take precautions," El Dorado County Interim Health Officer Dr. Dean Kelaita said in a statement. "It's important to make sure to limit exposure to wild animals, keep pets current on their rabies vaccinations and report any animal bites or sick or injured animals to Animal Services."
The department said last year, a total of 178 animals were found in California to be positive with the rabies virus including six in Amador County, six in Placer County, eight in Sacramento County and one in El Dorado County.
This report originally appeared on KCRA.com
