The crazed red fox that bit several people in New Jersey has tested positive for rabies, officials have warned.
The fox had “direct contact” with at least four people in Glen Ridge — three of whom were treated for “bite-related injuries” — with police fearing more could be at risk who have not come forward.
The violent mammal even tried to attack one of the cops who finally cornered it before it was killed on Friday.
The fox has now tested positive for rabies, officials confirmed Wednesday, as they urged anyone attacked to come forward for urgent treatment — as well as vigilance for pets that may have been bitten, too.
“Rabies is a deadly disease that with prompt treatment is 100 percent controllable but without prompt treatment becomes a fatal disease,” Glen Ridge police said in a statement.
“Therefore, it is imperative to obtain prompt treatment following a bite or exposure to the saliva of an infected animal.”
Pet owners were also advised to call the police if any pets or wild animals show “abnormal behavior” — with rabies potentially passed on to raccoons, skunks and free-roaming cats, the force said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls rabies a “fatal but preventable” viral disease that infects the central nervous system.
“If a person does not receive the appropriate medical care after a potential rabies exposure, the virus can cause disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in death,” the CDC warns.
Treatment usually involves a series of vaccines, the center says.
Initial reports said five people were attacked, but officials later revised that number to four.