Risk of Rabies in Strays

Tuesday, 6 May 2014 16:46

Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services reminds residents not to touch or pet animals they don’t know.

WOODSTOCK -- Warmer weather means an increase in wild animal encounters and officials with Oxford County Public Health want residents to be aware of Rabies.

Mandatory Rabies vaccinations for our pets have helped curb the number of Rabies cases in the province. Elaine Reddick, Program Supervisor, Health Protection, Oxford County Public Health says even with the amount of reported bites from animal encounters locally, there's still a risk, even with every case getting investigated.

"So far in 2014, there have been 63 animal bites so far, and 11 of those involved either stray or wild animal -- and again we investigate them to see if there are any Rabies in these cases and there wasn't."

Reddick says it's most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal, calling it a preventable disease.

Reddick says there hasn't been a confirmed animal case of rabies in Oxford County was in 2011 and that case involved a bat. She says that still doesn't keep officials with public health from following up every bite case, no matter what the animal.

"Is somebody gets Rabies and are not treated very early on, it is a fatal disease, so we don't let our guard down."

Reddick says the easiest way to avoid getting bit by a wild animal is just to avoid them all together, even treat any perceived domestic animal as wild and call animal control professionals to deal with strays so you don't have to.

It's a simple message to their seasonal campaign: "If it’s stray, stay away."

The vast majority of Rabies cases reported in Canada each year occur in wild animals like skunks, bats, and foxes.

"It was foxes and skunks that have high positives and you do get the occasional dog and cat. Of course with dogs and cats because so many of them are pets, they do get vaccinated, which is the law in Ontario, that dogs and cats are vaccinated, says Reddick."

Reddick adds the only way to know if animals have Rabies is through laboratory testing and not just by looking at them.

She says symptoms don't always present themselves the same way in pets, and if it's your own pet your worried about, be sure to contact your veterinarian.

Anyone bitten by an animal, (wild or domestic) should call your doctor or Oxford County Public Health immediately.