A second cat in Saint-Anicet, Quebec, in the Montérégie region has tested positive for raccoon rabies this summer. According to Santé Québec Montérégie-Centre, three individuals needed preventive treatment after encountering the infected animal. This incident follows the detection of another cat with rabies in Godmanchester, also in the Montérégie region, a week earlier.
Santé Québec emphasizes the importance of maintaining pets’ vaccinations current due to the ongoing spread of raccoon rabies in the Estrie, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec areas. Health authorities advise pet owners to prevent their animals from freely wandering outdoors without supervision and recommend avoiding contact with unfamiliar domestic or wild creatures, regardless of their appearance or health status.
In case of a bite, scratch, or potential contact with a rabid animal’s saliva, the public health officials recommend washing the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes and promptly calling Info-Santé at 811. Immediate preventative treatment is essential to prevent the disease from developing.
Animals infected with rabies may display altered behavior, aggression, a propensity to bite, isolation, decreased appetite, excessive drooling, or an unsteady walk. If a pet exhibits these signs, it should be isolated to limit interaction with other animals and people and promptly examined by a veterinarian.
The Environment Ministry reported the first instance of raccoon rabies in Saint-Eugène-de-Grantham in the Centre-du-Québec region. Residents in the Eastern Townships, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec are encouraged to report dead, injured, disoriented, paralyzed, or unusually aggressive raccoons, skunks, or foxes through an online form. For those outside these regions, potentially rabid wild animals can be reported to the Environment Ministry at 1 877 346-6763.