Veterinary Public Health Program
313 N Figueroa St. Rm 1127
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tel (213) 288-7060
Fax (213) 481-2375 vet@ph.lacounty.gov
Adobe Reader
Note: PDF documents on this site were created using Adobe Acrobat
5.0 or later. If you are using an earlier version of Adobe Acrobat
Reader (4.x or less), document functionality may be reduced.
Suspected Distemper in Gray Foxes, 2007-2008
Between November 2007 and April 2008, Monrovia Animal
Control and the Pasadena Humane Society reported 34 Gray Foxes either found dead or sick along the foothills of the Angeles National Forest. See
map at right.
In one case, a complete necropsy arranged by Los Angeles County Veterinary Public Health
confirmed infection with Distemper virus. Several other foxes had symptoms compatible with Distemper.
Distemper is highly contagious amongst dogs, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and skunks and can cause die-offs in wildlife.
Foxes are often
attracted to populated
areas in order to get to food. Easily accessible food, such as pet food left outdoors, may encourage a fox to frequently visit a property (even if there is a risk of a confrontation with a dog). A fox may contaminate food bowls with Distemper virus and pass the virus to dogs. Or a fox may catch the virus from a sick dog through contact with contaminated food bowls and surfaces.
This virus is NOT contagious to people.
This outbreak serves a
good reminder to keep
all pet food indoors and
to make sure all dogs a
properly vaccinated
against Distemper.
