Quebec, Canada - A case of raccoon rabies confirmed in Estrie: the Ministry urges the population to be extra careful

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Fight against raccoon rabies in Quebec - A case of raccoon rabies confirmed in Estrie: the Ministry urges the population to be extra careful

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Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks Jan 13, 2025, 1:00 PM ET

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QUEBEC CITY , Jan. 13, 2025 /CNW/ - The Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs is advising the public that a raccoon infected with the rabies virus was found dead in Saint-Armand, in the Eastern Townships, on December 17. Thanks to the vigilance of citizens who reported it to the authorities and the rapid intervention of wildlife specialists from the Ministère, the animal was recovered the same day for analysis. This is the first case of raccoon rabies in Quebec since 2015.

The animal was recovered approximately 1.4 kilometres from where a case was discovered in early December near the Quebec border, in the town of Highgate , Vermont . It should be recalled that over the past year, several cases of raccoon rabies have been detected in northern Vermont , in the United States. Tests conducted on the raccoon in January 2025 by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency laboratory confirmed that the raccoon variant is indeed the cause.

The evolution of the situation is being closely monitored by the Government of Quebec, which is continuing its close collaboration with the American authorities to optimize control and surveillance efforts on both sides of the border. Vaccination interventions for raccoons, skunks and foxes are planned for 2025. An analysis is underway to determine the best intervention strategy, which will be adapted to the situation.

Recommendations to follow to reduce risks to humans and domestic animals

Here are the instructions to follow to limit the risks of transmission of the disease to humans:

• If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal or have been in contact with its saliva, clean the wound (even if it appears minor) with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes, then quickly contact Info-Santé 811 to obtain appropriate medical follow-up.
• Never approach an unfamiliar animal, even if it looks harmless and is apparently healthy, because it could bite you and transmit rabies. An animal can carry the disease and develop symptoms several days or weeks after being infected.

If you own a pet, consult a veterinarian for:

• have your dogs or cats vaccinated against rabies and keep their vaccinations up to date;
• determine whether it is appropriate to vaccinate your other outdoor animals (e.g. livestock);
• determine the risk of rabies transmission if your pet has been in contact with a wild animal or if it itself shows suspicious signs of rabies.

Important : Avoid moving unwanted or orphaned animals, as this could spread rabies to areas that are rabies-free. Currently, the risk of moving rabies in this way is very high, as apparently healthy animals could still be carriers of the disease.

Importance of reporting suspect animals to aid in the detection of rabies cases

Due to the presence of an epidemic outbreak of raccoon rabies in northern Vermont that is now extending to Quebec, the Ministry is asking the population of the municipality of Saint-Armand and neighboring municipalities in the MRCs of Haut-Richelieu and Brome-Missisquoi, particularly those in communities along the border, to actively participate in the enhanced surveillance. People living in or visiting one of the following 17 municipalities are urged to exercise extra caution and vigilance: Bedford , Dunham , Frelighsburg , Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge , Pike River, Saint-Armand , Sainte-Sabine , Saint-Ignace-de-Stanbridge , Stanbridge East , Stanbridge Station , Clarenceville , Henryville , Noyan , Saint-Alexandre , Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois , Saint-Sébastien and Venise -en-Québec.

Rapid detection of rabies cases allows the Ministry to carry out more effective control interventions that are better adapted to the epidemiological situation of rabies in wild animals. The public is therefore invited to report, without delay, raccoons, skunks and foxes that are dead or that appear disoriented, injured, abnormally aggressive or paralyzed by calling 1 877 346-6763 or by completing the online form .

Highlights:

• Rabies is a contagious and fatal disease that can affect all mammals, which means that it can be transmitted from an infected animal to humans. In addition to raccoon rabies, other variants of rabies are circulating in Quebec, particularly in bats and foxes.
• Caution is therefore required at all times and with all species of mammals. Among the behaviors to adopt to avoid the risks of transmitting the disease, remember that you should never touch the carcass of a wild animal with your bare hands. It is also essential not to attract wild animals near your home. For example, store outdoor trash cans out of reach and avoid feeding pets outside.
• Since 2006, following the detection of the first case of the disease in the territory, Quebec has had a Raccoon Rabies Control Plan. The interventions carried out under this plan are based on the recommendations of a committee of experts in this field and are ratified by an interministerial committee composed of members of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.
• For many years, Quebec has been working with American states and neighbouring provinces to eliminate raccoon rabies in northeastern North America.

https://www.newswire.ca/fr/news-rele...881684249.html

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7 raccoons infected with rabies have been found in Estrie since the beginning of the year

Alexandra Duchaine
Posted yesterday at 5:14 PM CDT

Seven raccoons infected with rabies have been found in the Eastern Townships since the beginning of the year. The disease, absent from the region for 10 years, returned in December, when the first case was recorded .

It's actually starting to be worrying, in the sense that it's a lot of cases in a short period of time , agrees Marianne Gagnier, biologist and provincial rabies coordinator for the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.

The raccoons were almost all found dead or alive by residents of the Brome-Missisquoi area, in Saint-Armand and Pike-River, between January 19 and March 12.

For Marianne Gagnier, what is reassuring is that the animals were all detected in the same area. The source of infection is still relatively localized .

The scientist therefore asks the population not to move raccoons, skunks or foxes, even if they are disturbing.

"What worries us right now is that sometimes people move animals because they are pests, orphans, or for various reasons, but that can be a really significant source of rabies movement over quite large distances."

"The situation in the Saint-Armand area and surrounding areas is very critical."
- A quote from Marianne Gagnier, biologist and provincial rabies coordinator for the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks

Especially since a seemingly healthy animal can become infected with rabies and transmit it to a human. The disease can sometimes take weeks or even months to manifest in animals.

In humans, it can lead to death if symptoms are not treated promptly. In the event of a bite, citizens should wash the wound with soap and water and promptly call Info-Santé (811).

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2150176/rage-raton-maladie-mort-raccoon

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Rabies in animals

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https://www.quebec.ca/en/agriculture-environment-and-natural-resources/animal-health/animal-diseases/list-animal-diseases/rabies-in-animals