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Gray fox found in Cancún's SM 248 tests positive for rabies; health officials seek anyone who had contact Hurricane Isaías: heavy rain and gusts up to 70 km/h in northern Quintana Roo on October 8 Low pressure and water outages in northern Cancún, Playa Mujeres and Isla Mujeres due to Kusamil II works De los Colegios Ave.: temporary pothole repairs now, full repaving from January 2027 Cancún gets about 120 mm of rain; 350+ workers clear drains, report flooding at 998 778 4500 Alert: heavy rain, gusts up to 60 km/h and 3-meter waves in Quintana Roo on Thursday Gray fox found in Cancún's SM 248 tests positive for rabies; health officials seek anyone who had contact Hurricane Isaías: heavy rain and gusts up to 70 km/h in northern Quintana Roo on October 8 Low pressure and water outages in northern Cancún, Playa Mujeres and Isla Mujeres due to Kusamil II works De los Colegios Ave.: temporary pothole repairs now, full repaving from January 2027 Cancún gets about 120 mm of rain; 350+ workers clear drains, report flooding at 998 778 4500 Alert: heavy rain, gusts up to 60 km/h and 3-meter waves in Quintana Roo on Thursday
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Gray fox found in Cancún's SM 248 tests positive for rabies; health officials seek anyone who had contact

Quintana Roo's Health Department asks anyone, or any pet owner, whose animal touched the fox to call 998 888 6640 or visit a clinic.

By Miguel Díaz Miró · Responsible editor ·
Gray fox, a wild species found in urban areas of Cancún

Quintana Roo's Health Department (SESA) confirmed that a gray fox captured on Saturday, October 3, in the parking lot of a supermarket on Avenida Kabah, in Supermanzana 248 of Cancún, tested positive for rabies. The agency is looking for anyone, including pet owners, who may have had contact with the animal so they can receive medical guidance and follow-up.

What happened

According to SESA, the fox scratched a one-year-old girl on the finger. She was treated immediately and received the rabies vaccine as a precaution; health officials say she is in good condition and out of danger.

The fox was captured in coordination with the Quintana Roo Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas Institute (Ibanqroo) and taken to the Animal Control and Zoonosis Center, where it was euthanized so nerve tissue samples could be taken. The State Public Health Laboratory confirmed the presence of the virus.

According to the department, there are currently no human rabies cases in the state.

If you had contact with the animal

SESA asks people to call 911 or 998 888 6640 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), or to go to the nearest medical unit. This also applies if your dog or cat may have come into contact with the fox around Avenida Kabah in early October.

What to do after any animal bite or scratch

  • Wash the wound right away with plenty of soap and water for several minutes.
  • Don't wait for symptoms: go to a health center the same day. Rabies vaccination works when given promptly after exposure.
  • If you can, note where and when it happened and what the animal looked like; that helps medical staff decide on treatment.
  • Keep your dogs' and cats' rabies shots up to date; they are the main barrier between wildlife and households.

Wildlife in the city

The Health Department recommends not touching, feeding or trying to catch wild animals, and reporting their presence in urban areas to the authorities. Benito Juárez's Ecology Department, headed by Fernando Haro Salinas, has said it receives about three wildlife reports a day in the city, including spider monkeys, coatis and various birds.

In Cancún, where urban growth borders jungle and wetlands, these encounters are common. If you see a wild animal on your street, keep your distance, keep children and pets away, and call 911 so trained staff can respond.

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