A fox that was euthanased after biting at least nine people at the US Capitol had rabies, public health officials say.
DC Health in Washington told the AFP news agency that laboratory analysis of tissue samples had "confirmed the fox tested positive for the rabies virus".
"DC Health is contacting all human victims who were bitten by the fox," officials said.
The animal was "humanely" euthanased after it was identified as being responsible for nine confirmed bites at the Capitol on Monday and Tuesday local time.
No other foxes were found at the complex near downtown Washington, according to DC Health.
But foxes are known to be present throughout the DC area
Fox's escapades go viral
Before the episode took a dark turn, the fox's hijinks had lit up social media, spawning a satirical Twitter account, a glut of questionable puns and a parody online store offering T-shirts bearing the words: "I survived the Capitol Fox 2022."
The satirical Twitter account jokingly demanded a second opinion on the rabies diagnosis, and commemorated the fox's death.
Congressman recounts 'unusual' encounter with fox
Democratic congressman Ami Bera had rabies and tetanus shots after suffering an "abrasion" during an encounter with the fox on Monday while walking to the Capitol.
Mr Bera said he felt something lunge at him from behind as he walked near one of the Senate office buildings.
He turned and used his umbrella to fend off what he thought would be a small dog, but he soon realised he was tangling with a fox.
"I would say it's the most unusual day on the Hill in 10 years," Mr Bera said of his experience.
NBC News reported that Mr Bera wasn't initially sure if the fox caught by police was the one which attacked him.
The fox also attacked a political reporter, biting her ankle from behind, as well as at least seven other members of the public.
The House Sergeant at Arms warned politicians and their staffs that there had been multiple recent fox encounters, and that the animals should not be approached.
Foxes not usually seen in rabies statistics
Human deaths from rabies have been declining in the US since the 1970s, thanks to public health and outreach programs as well as medical advances.
There are just one to three cases of human rabies per year in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the most common method of transmission is a bite that punctures the skin.
Of 25 cases from 2009 to 2019, seven were acquired abroad. Most were caused by bats, with dogs and racoons -- but no foxes -- also among the culprits. All except two of the infections proved fatal.
A few thousand animals test positive each year and 30,000 to 60,000 people receive post-exposure treatment.
The federal government's Health Department website says rabies is not present in land-dwelling mammals In Australia.
ABC/wires
