Rabid Fox Confirmed in Greenwood County, One Person Exposed
June 17, 2026
A fox found in Greenwood has tested positive for rabies, and one person who was exposed has been referred to a healthcare provider, the South Carolina Department of Public Health announced.
The fox was discovered near Woodbury Drive and Woodlawn Road in Greenwood. It was submitted to the department’s laboratory for testing on June 12 and confirmed to have rabies on June 15.
Anyone who believes they, someone they know, or their pets may have come in contact with this fox or another animal that potentially has rabies should call the department’s Upstate Greenville-Spartanburg office at (864) 372-3270 during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. After hours and on holidays, calls can be directed to (888) 847-0902, Option 2.
“Keeping your pets up to date on their rabies vaccination is the easiest way to protect you and your family from this deadly virus,” said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program manager. “Any mammal has the ability to carry and transmit the disease to people or pets. Therefore, give wild and stray animals plenty of space.”
In South Carolina, rabies is most often found in wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats, but pets are just as susceptible to the virus. Residents who see an animal in need should avoid touching it and instead contact someone trained in handling animals, such as a local animal control officer, wildlife control officer or wildlife rehabilitator.
An exposure is defined as direct contact, such as through broken skin or the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth, with saliva or brain and nervous system tissue from an infected animal.
This fox is the third animal in Greenwood County to test positive for rabies in 2026. Statewide, there have been 49 cases of rabid animals this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 136 positive cases a year. In 2025, three of the 101 confirmed rabies cases in the state were in Greenwood County.
Contact information for local public health offices is available at dph.sc.gov/RabiesContacts. For more information on rabies, visit dph.sc.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.
