A second cat in Saint-Anicet, Quebec, located in the Montérégie region, is confirmed to have contracted raccoon rabies this summer. According to Santé Québec Montérégie-Centre, three individuals had to receive preventive treatment after encountering the infected animal. This case emerged just one week following the diagnosis of the first cat with the same viral illness in Godmanchester, also within the Montérégie area.
Santé Québec emphasizes the significance of maintaining pets’ vaccinations up to date as raccoon rabies continues to spread across the Estrie, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec regions. Public health authorities are advising pet owners to ensure their animals are not freely roaming outside without supervision and to abstain from contact with unfamiliar domestic or wild creatures, regardless of their appearance or health status.
In the event of a bite, scratch, or exposure to the saliva of a potentially rabid animal, individuals are advised to wash the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes and promptly call Info-Santé at 811. Timely preventative treatment is crucial to prevent the onset of the disease.
Animals infected with rabies may display behavioral changes, aggression, a tendency to bite and isolate themselves, decreased appetite, excessive salivation, or an unsteady gait. If a pet exhibits these symptoms, it should be isolated from other animals and humans and promptly examined by a veterinarian.
The Environment Ministry reported the initial instance of raccoon rabies in the Centre-du-Québec region, specifically in Saint-Eugène-de-Grantham. Residents in the Eastern Townships, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec regions are urged to report any deceased, injured, disoriented, paralyzed, or unusually aggressive raccoons, skunks, or foxes via an online form. Those outside these areas in Quebec can report potentially rabid wildlife by contacting the Environment Ministry at 1-877-346-6763.