Health officials are going door-to-door to alert people that a rabid fox attacked one of their neighbors.

Tests came back positive for a fox that attacked a Davis resident Thursday. The health department will distribute fliers in that part of Carteret County advising the neighbors of what precautions they should take.

The health department says there have been other foxes spotted in the same area, so residents are being urged to make sure rabies vaccinations for their pets are up to date.

So far this year there have been at least six rabid raccoons found in Carteret County, while it was discovered in July that two children were playing with a rabid bat.

"You can't always tell if an animal has rabies, so it's best to be cautious around both wild animals and domestic animals that you are not familiar with. An infected animal will eventually show symptoms of rabies: losing their fear of people, becoming aggressive, staggering and even becoming paralyzed. Wild animals that are the main concern are raccoons, fox and bats." says animal control supervisor Carolyn Mason.

The health department says if you're bitten or scratched by an animal, it is vital to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and seek immediate medical care.

If a pet has been in a fight with a wild animal or another domestic animal, authorities say you should wear gloves or use some other type of barrier in handling the animal to avoid coming into contact with saliva.