State officials are warning people to get pet dogs vaccinated against canine distemper following numerous reports of gray foxes displaying symptoms of the disease in the Upper Connecticut River Valley and southern New Hampshire.
Canine distemper is caused by a natural virus spread by close animal contact. It is usually fatal and cannot be cured, but it can be prevented through vaccinations.
Distemper vaccines are often given to dogs as part of a series known as DAPP. They are not required in New Hampshire.
Canine distemper is not contagious to people.
Canine distemper can spread to dogs and ferrets, but is not contagious to cats, which get an unrelated disease with a similar name, feline distemper.
In the wild, canine distemper has been reported in foxes, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, mink, weasel, fisher and otter.
Wildlife with canine distemper can appear unusually tame, confused and perform high-risk daytime activity such as walking down or standing near busy streets. These symptoms occur late in the infection, when the animal is very sick, according to the N.H. Fish and Game Department.