LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. ( DC News Now ) — A red fox in Loudoun County tested positive for a highly contagious category of bird flu and is the first mammal case reported in Virginia, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) announced Friday.
The DWR said the red fox was found in Hamilton and transported to the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center rehabilitation facility on March 31.
Initially, the fox was believed to have rabies and was humanely euthanized. The fox tested positive for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the first reported case in mammals in Virginia. The DWR added that the rabies test results are still pending.
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), HPAI has been found in mammals in over 30 states since 2022 and is likely caused by animals eating infected birds. HPAI symptoms are similar to infectious diseases such as rabies and canine distemper…