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Virginia Beach woman fights off rabid fox


Nina James-Houseman plans on being more prepared next time. (CNN Newsource)
Nina James-Houseman plans on being more prepared next time. (CNN Newsource)
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WSET) -- A Virginia Beach jogger is recovering after being attacked by a vicious rabid fox.

"It's a little bit of a blur exactly what all happened but I ended up in a position you know where he was coming at me and being aggressive," said Nina James-Houseman who fought off the fox.

According to News3, what James-Houseman first thought was a cat or coyote lurking in the distance was a vicious and relentless fox.

"I'm shuffling and moving and he comes off, comes around comes at me again so I have to kick him and these are not small kicks these are full up like he's is airborne into the bushes on the side of the path," said James-Houseman.

She kicked it at least eight times before he finally skirted off the path.

"I'm thinking how many times am I gonna have to kick this fox before he stops coming at me," said James-Houseman.

Two days later, Virginia Beach officials found a dead fox in the exact area of James-Houseman's attack. The Health Department tested it positive for rabies.

The fox left James-Houseman with wounds on her upper thigh and knees.

"Its puncture wounds but it wasn't like he took a chunk out thank goodness," said James-Houseman.

She says next time she hits the trail, she'll be prepared.

"I will definitely take mace or like a retractable baton something like that," said James-Houseman.

She says she has already had nine shots including tetanus and rabies vaccines since the attack. She has three more rounds to go to make sure she doesn't get sick.

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