Rabid Animals Found in Irmo

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “We haven’t had 3 in a year before now,” says Irmo Police Chief Brian Buck In about four months, Irmo Police Chief Brian Buck says, a rabid raccoon and two foxes have been found in the area. “The fox we ran across yesterday was salivating excessively, staggering couldn’t stand up, would walk a couple steps and fall over, was nipping at the air,” says Chief Buck The cases span areas like St. Andrews Road along with the Old Friarsgate and New Friarsgate Neighborhoods. They’re all populated areas and Chief Buck says it’s even more of a reason to be cautious. “Now that it’s starting to warm up, the weather is getting nicer, people will be taking their dogs for walks, kids will be playing in the backyard,” says Buck Rabid foxes aren’t anything new to the Midlands or South Carolina for that matter. According to DHEC in 2012 alone 137 rabid animal cases were confirmed in the state. Thirty-seven of those were in Region 3, which includes Midlands counties Lexington, Richland, Newberry and Fairfield. Last Spring, human exposure was reported in Lexington County after health officials say a fox bit someone. And while the most recent cases have not included human exposure, Chief Buck wants residents to be on the look out. “We haven’t had any human exposure yet and we want to avoid that,” says Buck. According to DHEC, on average 275 South Carolinians undergo preventative measures for rabies. In the coming weeks, the state will kick off rabies vaccination season.