Ont. rabies cases move east, linked to hitchhiking raccoon

File photo.

Monday, June 27, 2016, 7:31 PM -

A large rabies outbreak impacting Hamilton, Ont. appears to be moving east, with the Halton Region Health Department confirming a bat tested positive for rabies in Oakville, Ont. on June 17. Meanwhile, scientists say the province's largest rabies outbreak in a decade can be linked back to a raccoon that hitchhiked more than 500 km from New York State into Ontario.

BAT RABIES IN OAKVILLE

While officials say the risk to humans remains low, Oakville residents in the Honeyvale Road and Swansea Drive area who may have had physical contact with a bat are being advised to contact the health department by dialing 311.

“The Health Department is reminding residents to avoid all contact with bats and other wild animals,” Matt Ruf, Director of Healthy Environments & Communicable Disease for Halton Region said in a statement.

“Anyone who comes in physical contact with a bat or other wild animal should see a physician immediately and contact the Health Department.” 

HITCHHIKING RACCOON BLAMED FOR OUTBREAK

Scientists say they were surprised by their findings but, after ruling out any errors, it appears a rabid raccoon from New York State hitchhiked hundreds of kilometres into the province and sparked the worst rabies outbreak in a decade.

So far 128 cases of raccoon rabies have been recorded, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The best way to protect pets against rabies is to keep them up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. (File photo.

Susan Nadin-Davis, a researcher with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency focused on rabies research, told the Canadian Press (CP) her laboratory analyzed the rabies strain present in Ontario and then ran the results through a database. Nadin-Davis said the findings suggest the Ontario strain is closely related to one from southeastern New York state. It has different characteristics from strains found near the border.

"If we understand how rabies spreads, then we can identify tactics to prevent and reduce the chance of this happening again," she told CP.

In the meantime the ministry is air-dropping edible rabies vaccines, distributing 600,000 since early April.

RABIES PREVENTION

The best way to protect pets against rabies is to keep them up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations and avoid contact with wild animals and supervise pets when outside.

Humans who have been exposed to rabies can be treated with immune globulin and four doses of a rabies vaccine over a two-week period, provided treatment is started as soon as possible.

In the past, post-exposure treatment consisted of painful injections in the stomach. Today's vaccines are less painful and can be injected into the arm and thigh.

WHAT IS RABIES?

Rabies is a viral disease that can infect most mammals.

It is usually transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. It infects the central nervous system.

If untreated, symptoms can take between 9 days and 3 weeks to appear. By then, the disease is almost always fatal.

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Headache

Rabies remains relatively rare in Canada, with less than two dozen human deaths reported in Canada since 1925.

While raccoon rabies cases are on the rise in southern Ontario this year, 2015 figures across the country are low, according this chart from the Government of Canada:

Sources: CBC | Flickr

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