Disease & Aggression
In the UK, there is little or no danger of
contracting disease from foxes. The last case of canine rabies, once
widespread in the UK, was in 1902, since when the disease has rapidly
receded over most of Europe. Neither parvovirus nor distemper have ever
been conclusively recorded in UK foxes, and there is virtually no
possibility of serious health problems arising from the presence of
foxes.
So what diseases can foxes carry? Doctors routinely warn pregnant
women of the dangers of toxoplasmosis, a parasite found in most species
of animals and birds and which can affect the eyes, kidneys, blood,
brain and nervous system of any species it infects. 50% of humans are
infected with toxoplasmosis at some time in their lives, usually with no
more than mild flu-like symptoms. Once infected, humans are immune to
further infection. Infection is transmitted when the parasite’s eggs
are excreted in animal faeces, but these are non-viable until exposed to
the air for 24 hours, so swift disposal of faeces removes the
likelihood of infection. The primary host for toxoplasmosis in the UK
is the domestic cat. All infections, both to humans and other animals,
are derived from that source. It cannot be contracted from foxes.
Toxocara is a nematode roundworm for which most dogs are regularly
treated, and It can also be carried by foxes. As with toxoplasmosis,
early disposal of faeces removes the potential for transmission, as the
eggs are not harmful until exposed to the air for 10-14 days. Annually,
only around 20 people are diagnosed with toxocareasis in the UK, the
last significant infection being 27 years ago. No case has ever been
ascribed to a fox. Both pet cats and dogs may carry toxocara
(respectively, cati and canis) and the greater potential for human
contraction is from those sources.
Despite a highly inaccurate article in the frequently inaccurate
Daily Mail, lungworm cannot be contracted from foxes. Fleas are found on
all animal species and those found on foxes are usually cat fleas.
Even then, wildlife rescue groups report they seldom encounter a healthy
fox with a significant flea burden.
Foxes may suffer from sarcoptic mange, one of two types of canine
mange present in the UK. The other is demodectic mange, almost never
found in foxes but more common than sarcoptic mange in domestic dogs.
Sarcoptic mange is sometimes referred to as ‘fox mange’ – misleading
terminology and factually incorrect. It is simply canine mange. The
mite may produce a mild allergic reaction similar to nettle rash in
humans and other species and is much more likely to arise from contact
with an affected pet dog than from a fox, with which few humans have
direct contact.
A fox bite is painful but offers less potential for infection than a
domestic cat bite or scratch – cats being regarded in animal rescue
circles as the animal most likely to transmit serious infection. It is
always wise to seek antibiotic cover for any animal bite, plus
vaccination against tetanus, but this begs the question – how many
people are bitten by foxes?
The answer is – unless you are a wildlife rescuer – hardly anyone.
Foxes are not aggressive by nature and sensationalist media stories of
foxes biting people are usually unfounded, exaggerated or invented as a
means of diverting attention from a more embarrassing truth. Of the
three high profile ‘fox bites baby’ stories reported over the past 11
years, one was discounted by medical evidence and subsequently ascribed
to the family’s own dog; despite numerous offers of assistance, wildlife
experts were denied access to the second, where rumours persisted about
a family dog that ‘suddenly went missing’; and some within the media
have privately informed us they remain dubious about the circumstances
surrounding the third.
Unfortunately, nipping of householders does occasionally take place.
This is often connected with that person foolishly encouraging a fox to
take food from hand. When the animal fails to receive the expected
food, it sometimes takes the initiative. It is also conceivable a fox
suffering with concussion or toxoplasmosis could exhibit aggressive
behaviour.
To give some sense of proportion, up to a quarter of a million people
are injured, maimed and even killed each year in the UK by pet dogs,
over 6000 of them requiring hospital treatment. Eighteen people,
predominantly young children, have been killed by dogs since 2005 and in
the first six weeks of 2014 alone, three people were killed by domestic
dogs. Thousands more people are treated annually for cat bites and
scratches. A few are even killed by bee stings and stampeding cattle.
No-one has ever been killed by a fox and, should any situation arise
where a human is provenly and seriously bitten by a fox, it would still
remain insignificant compared with the casualty figures relating to
other animal species.
Where small pets are concerned, one must remember the fox is a
predator. If rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens etc., are housed outside, a
good quality pen is vital – and a legal requirement on the owner’s part
– because these are all natural prey to a fox. However, such concerns
need not be felt for cats and dogs, most of which out-weigh the average
5kg adult fox (despite nonsensical scare stories involving foxes
weighing 17kg), and where rare aggression is more often caused by a
fox’s defence of young cubs rather than from other motivation.
In any event, many more householders contact us with stories of
‘chumming-up’ between a fox and the caller’s cat, dog or, rather more
mysteriously, their rabbit (!) than with situations involving
aggression.
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