HEALTH - First Rabies Case in Waterloo Region of Ontario

Despite a decrease in rabies cases reported in on Ontario this year, the rabies outbreak has made its way to Waterloo Region.

There were 288 cases of rabies confirmed in the province in 2016, with the majority reported in and around the Hamilton area.

Last week Waterloo Public Health announced the first case discovered in that region since the outbreak began at the end of 2015.

The provincial government has already launched their rabies control operations for this year which included helicopter baiting in Huron and Perth Counties in April.

Going forward, plans include helicopter, twin otter and hand baiting from July through September.

Baits are dropped for foxes, raccoons and skunks to eat in areas where rabies has been detected in wildlife in the current or previous year.

The bait is a small packet filled with the rabies vaccine that is absorbed through the lining of the mouth.

Animals are immunized against rabies about 2 weeks after they either chew or swallow the rabies vaccine bait.

To protect your family and your pets from rabies:

• Keep pets up-to-date with their rabies vaccination. In Ontario, it’s the law that all cats and dogs over three months of age be vaccinated against rabies
• Teach children to stay away from wild animals, dogs and cats they don’t know or animals that are acting strangely. A strange acting animal could be a sign that it is sick
• Talk to your veterinarian about vaccinating your livestock against rabies
• Keep pets away from wildlife. Don’t let your pets run free in the neighborhood and keep them indoors at night
• Don’t feed, transport or relocate wildlife.

To help pet owners Bridletown Warden Animal Hospital has been hosting low cost rabies/microchip clinics which will continue into June.

Visit Urban Animal Corporation’s website for complete clinic details, dates, locations and contact information.

HEALTH - Second Rabid Cat Found in Ontario

On February 6th, a cat infected with rabies was reported in Ontario.

This is just the second reported case of rabies in a domesticated animal in the province in 20 years.

The city of Hamilton Public Health Services is asking anyone who may have lost, abandoned, fed, or came in contact with a male adult orange tabby cat in the area bounded by Rymal Road to the north, 5th Line to the south, Fletcher Road and Harrison Road to the east, and Pauline Johnson Road to the west between Sunday, January 22 and Monday, January 30, 2017 to contact their local health unit to determine whether or not they need rabies post-exposure vaccine.

The city believes the two feline rabies cases are likely related to the resurgence of raccoon rabies in the area.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is conducting tests to determine if this cat is related to the raccoon strain of rabies currently circulating in the wild animal population and results are expected next week.

To protect people and their pets the city is recommending:

• Avoid contact with live or dead animals including raccoons, skunks, bats, as well as unknown dogs and cats. Do not feed, help, or relocate any wildlife of keep them as pets.
• Vaccinate pets against rabies, and keep rabies vaccinations current for dogs and cats to protect them, and prevent any spread to people.
• Report animal bites and scratches to public health by calling 905-546-CITY (2489). Wash wounds with soap and water, and seek medical attention.
• Report sick, injured, or strange behaving wildlife to City of Hamilton Animal Services by calling 905-546-CITY (2489)

As at February 1st, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reported a total of 277 raccoon strain rabies cases and six fox strain since the outbreak began in December of 2015.

This is 14 new cases in 2017 and does not include the cat discovered this week.

The majority of incidents are raccoon strain rabies:

Raccoons: 187 cases

Skunks: 85 cases

Fox: 1 case

Cat: 1 case

Llama: 1 case

The province has tested over 4,800 animals for rabies and continues to rely on vaccine baits to help control the spread of the disease.

HEALTH - Year Ends With 269 Rabies Cases in Ontario

The province of Ontario has tested over 4,700 animals for rabies since the first case in December of 2015.

Over 1.6M vaccine baits have been distributed to help contain the disease and in the latest report, nine more cases of raccoon strain rabies have been discovered.

Testing from the week before Christmas confirmed five infected raccoons and four infected skunks in the Hamilton, Halton and Brandt regions.

This brings the total to 265 cases of raccoon strain and 4 cases of fox strain rabies in Ontario.

Summary:

Raccoon strain rabies - 265 cases

Hamilton - 213 cases

Haldimand - 19 cases

Brant - 12 cases

Niagara - 12 cases

Halton - 9 cases

Raccoon Strain Species Breakdown:

Raccoons - 181 cases

Skunks - 81 cases

Fox - 1 case

Cat - 1 case

Llama - 1 case

No testing was done through the holidays but will resume next week.

Rabies (Lyssavirus) is an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals.

It’s transmitted through the saliva when the animal “sheds” the virus.

Rabies is not transmitted through the blood, urine, or feces of an infected animal, nor is it spread airborne through the open environment. Because it affects the nervous system, most rabid animals behave abnormally.

Historically, bats, foxes and skunks are the most common carriers of rabies in Canada, with coyotes and raccoons added to this list in the United States.

It is believed this rabies outbreak in Ontario was caused by a raccoon that rode into Canada on a semi-truck from the US.

HEALTH - Rabies Numbers Continue to Grow in Ontario

Six new cases of rabies were reported last week by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in Ontario, plus the rabid cat confirmed by Hamilton public health.

Five cases were from the Hamilton area - three raccoons, one skunk and one red fox - and one raccoon from Haldimand-Norfolk County.

Strain typing has not been performed on the red fox but it is assumed to be raccoon strain due to its location.

The total number of animals infected with raccoon strain rabies since December 2015 is now 180, along with two cases of fox strain rabies.

According to the Ministry, the raccoon strain has been found in the following animals:

• 125 raccoons
• 53 skunks
• 1 cat
• 1 red fox
  
  

You can see the spread of the disease by visiting the Ontario government website, which displays a series of graphics beginning December 15th that show where rabies cases have been found along with the vaccine baiting areas.

HEALTH - Hamilton Cat Tests Positive for Rabies

Hamilton Public Health Services was notified on August 25, 2016 by Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit that a cat that may have originated in a rural area of Ancaster tested positive for rabies.

They are asking anyone who may have lost, abandoned, fed, or came in contact with a grey adult male cat in the area of Alberton, from south of Highway 403 into Brant County, between August 10 and August 20 to contact them.

• City of Hamilton residents can call 905-546-2489.
• Brant County residents can call 519-753-4937.

It’s possible the cat is Hamilton’s first case of domestic rabies in over 20 years.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is conducting tests to determine if this case is related to the raccoon strain of rabies found in the wild animal population in the Hamilton area.

Results of the tests are expected next week.

After more than a decade without raccoon strain rabies, Ontario has seen cases throughout 2016.

To combat the outbreak, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is planning a large scale aerial baiting operation in late August early September.

They will be distributing 500,000 more rabies vaccine baits by Twin Otter aircraft.

This is in addition to the 900,000 oral vaccine baits that have been distributed by the ministry in southern Ontario since December 2015 when the first case of raccoon rabies was confirmed.

As of August 23rd, 170 cases of raccoon strain rabies and 2 cases of fox strain rabies have been found in the province.

Raccoon strain rabies by area:

Hamilton 150

Haldimand 10

Niagara 5

Brant 5

In these cases, rabies was found in 118 raccoons and 52 skunks.

Hamilton Public Health is encouraging residents to:

• Always keep a safe distance from wild and unknown animals. Rabies can make animals aggressive or it can make them appear sick, scared, or friendly.
• Avoid contact with live or dead animals including raccoons, skunks, other land animals and bats, and unknown dogs and cats. Do not feed, help, or relocate any wildlife or keep them as pets.
• Keep your pets supervised.
• Vaccinate your pets against rabies, and keep rabies vaccinations current for dogs and cats to protect them, and prevent any spread to people. Visit their website for information on low cost rabies vaccine clinics.
• Report animal bites and scratches to public health by calling 905-546-2489. Wash wounds with soap and water and seek medical attention.
• If you see sick, injured or strange behaving wildlife report it to City of Hamilton Animal Services 905-546-2489.
  
  

HEALTH - More Rabies Cases in Ontario

The province of Ontario has been combating a rabies outbreak with the distribution of over 800,000 oral vaccines.

This week the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reported three new rabies cases - two raccoons and one skunk, all with raccoon strain rabies.

This brings the total to 152 cases of raccoon strain rabies and 2 cases of fox strain rabies cases since December 2015.

Over 3,500 animals have been tested for the disease this year.

HEALTH - Ontario Rabies Numbers Continue to Grow

Ontario announced its first raccoon strain rabies cases in December 2015 and since then the number continues to grow.

Prior to this outbreak, the province hadn’t seen this type of rabies since 2005.

The latest update from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry states there have been a total of 121 cases of raccoon strain rabies and 2 cases of fox strain rabies cases since December 2015.

In the past week they reported five new cases - four from Hamilton (two raccoons and two skunks) and one case from Brantford in a raccoon.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

Pets can be protected from the virus through vaccination - which is legally required in Ontario.

Pet owners can also protect their animals by maintaining control of them to reduce their exposure to wildlife. It’s also important to report any stray or ill animals to animal control.

Rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical care. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia, die from rabies every year.

In 2006 a group of researchers and professionals formed the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) whose mission is to prevent human deaths from rabies and relieve the burden of rabies in other animal populations, especially dogs.

World Rabies Day was founded by GARC and has grown every year, with hundreds of thousands of people participating in events on or around September 28th.

GARC uses a holistic model for rabies prevention that has proven to work and includes people, education, vaccination, access to treatment and monitoring results.

Their projects in Africa, the Philippines, India and elsewhere take them closer to their vision of a world free of human rabies.

First Case of Rabies Found in Brantford, Ontario

Until last week, the majority of raccoon rabies cases in Ontario were concentrated in the Hamilton area.

That changed with the first reported case found in a raccoon from Brant County.

Along with the raccoon in Brantford, seven other new cases were reported by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry - five skunks and a raccoon from Hamilton and a raccoon from Haldimand County.

The total number of raccoon strain rabies is now 108, plus the two fox strain rabies cases since December 2015.

Pet owners interested in the low cost rabies vaccination and microchip/HomeSafe clinics, offered by Dr. Jeff Rabinovich from the Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital, PJ’s Pets, PetCulture and HomeSafe™, have one more opportunity.

There is a clinic on Saturday, May 28th from noon until 4pm at PJ’s Pets in Brockville.

Stay up-to-date on the rabies situation in Ontario by visiting the government website.

Ontario Rabies Cases Increase to 86

The latest bulletin from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry puts the number of animals infected with rabies at 86.

This includes 60 raccoons and 24 skunks infected with raccoon strain rabies and two cases of Arctic Fox strain rabies.

Six of the cases identified over the past week were in the Hamilton area and one in Niagara.

Ontario continues its rabies control operations which began April 1st and involves dropping bait that contains rabies vaccine that animals ingest.

Find up-to-date rabies information on the Ontario government website.

Ontario Rabies Control Operations Begin April 1st

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry announced the plan for their annual rabies control operations - to reach wild raccoons, skunks and foxes and prevent further spread of raccoon and fox strain rabies in the province.

Ontario had been free of raccoon strain rabies for over ten years and fox strain for two, but since December 2015 seventy-six raccoon rabies cases have been reported.

Rabies control activities for the 2016 spring season include:

• Aerial baiting in a small area of Perth County – projected to start April 1
• Aerial baiting in the Golden Horseshoe area – projected to start April 1 and be completed by the end of April
• Hand baiting of urban areas – projected to start April 4 and continue throughout the spring and early summer
• Control measures at the point of infection – only to take place in the event of a raccoon or ‘Ontario fox strain’ rabies incident.

Summer management activities include:

• Aerial baiting in a small area in eastern Ontario along the St. Lawrence River and ground baiting (within urban areas if required) – scheduled for mid-August
• Aerial baiting within a 50 km radius of confirmed raccoon strain rabies cases - scheduled for mid-August
• Ground and aerial urban and rural baiting in Niagara area – scheduled for late August
• Aerial baiting within a 50 km radius of confirmed fox strain rabies cases - scheduled for mid-September
• Control measures at the point of infection – only to take place in the event of a raccoon or ‘Ontario fox strain’ rabies incident.

The khaki-green coloured bait being dropped from the aircraft has a label with a toll-free telephone number (1-888-574-6656)  and “Do not eat” warning on the exterior of the bait. A plastic package containing the liquid rabies vaccine is embedded in the centre. If found, the bait should not be touched, but left for raccoons, skunks and foxes to consume.

For more information you are encouraged to visit the Rabies in Ontario website or contact the rabies hotline at 1-888-574-6656.

Ontario Rabies Update

This week, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry updated the number of rabies cases in Ontario to 70 since the first case was discovered in December 2015.

This includes 51 raccoons and 19 skunks infected with the raccoon rabies strain.

Rabies (Lyssavirus) is an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals. It’s transmitted through the saliva when the animal “sheds” the virus. Rabies is not transmitted through the blood, urine, or feces of an infected animal, nor is it spread airborne through the open environment. Because it affects the nervous system, most rabid animals behave abnormally.

Historically, bats, foxes and skunks are the most common carriers of rabies in Canada, with coyotes and raccoons added to this list in the United States. It is believed this rabies outbreak in Ontario was caused by a raccoon that rode into Canada on a semi-truck from the US.

Raccoon Rabies Found in More Ontario Skunks and Raccoons

For the first time in over a decade, a raccoon tested positive for rabies in Ontario last December.

Since 2005, Ontario had successfully kept rabid raccoons from entering the province by using bait with rabies vaccines along areas where they often crossed over from the U.S.

It’s believed the infected animal rode into the province on the back of a tractor trailer.

"I was really disappointed," Chris Davies, the province's top wildlife researcher who's been credited with keeping the virus outside of Ontario's borders for more than a decade, told CBC. "We knew if we found one, we'd find more."

More infected animals have been discovered - a total of 58 to date - and the baiting program was stepped up with hundreds of thousands of the tasty vaccines being dropped by hand, helicopter and airplane.

The government of Ontario is keeping citizens apprised of reported rabies cases and general rabies information on their website. This week reporting 12 new cases - 10 skunks and two raccoons.

All mammals are susceptible to rabies, which is usually passed through a bite and infected saliva. The best way to protect your pet is to ensure vaccinations are up to date.

Ontario announces $5.5 million in annual funding to strengthen protection for animals

Madeleine Meilleur

The Ontario Government announced today it is strengthening protection for animals through regular inspections of zoos and aquariums, by boosting enforcement of animals of animal welfare laws, cracking down on puppy and kitten mills and enhancing standards of care for marine mammals.

The Ontario SPCA and its communities will receive enhanced government support for work in enforcing Animal Welfare legislation, preventing animal cruelty and protecting animals.

"Our government cares deeply for the well-being of animals wherever they live in this province," said Madeleine Meilleur, Ministry of Community Safety and Correction Services. "These measures strengthen the enforcement of animal welfare laws in under-serviced areas, dedicate resources to specific areas of concern . . . and will set new standards of care for marine mammals." 

"The $5.5 million in annual funding and broadened scope of responsibilities speaks to the importance of Animal Welfare in our province and the essential need for the animal protection services of the Ontario SPCA communities," said Kate MacDonald, Ontario SPCA Chief Executive Officer. 

The Ontario SPCA and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services are working together to provide enhanced protection of animals and service to communities through new and expanded programs across the province including a special squad for unusual or lengthy investigations, a provincial zoo and aquarium registry and increased resources for northern and First Nations communities. 

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