The Allegheny County Health Department has confirmed that a fox brought to one of its facilities last week from North Versailles has tested positive for rabies.

Rabies is a virus transmitted by an animal bite or scratch and is almost always fatal when left untreated. Any individual who is bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to saliva from a stray or any other animal, should immediately cleanse the contact area with soap and water, seek emergency medical treatment and call the Health Department to report the incident.

Always avoid stray animals and wildlife, even if they appear healthy, to avoid exposure to rabies. You should also have pets vaccinated, and watch for unusual behavior. If any animal appears to be acting strange or becomes threatening, residents should notify their local animal control service, the police or the Pennsylvania Game Commission immediately.