Rabies

The risk of bumping into a rabid animal in Brantford or Brant County is low. Infection to humans and other animals occurs from a bite or scratch from a rabid animal, or if the rabies virus from the animal’s saliva is in contact with an open cut, mouth, nose, or eyes.

To learn more about the rabies virus, including signs and symptoms in humans and animals, visit Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs – Rabies in Ontario

While the risk to the public remains low, the following steps must be taken to reduce the spread of this virus:

• Keep your pets and livestock rabies vaccinations up to date. It’s the law.
• Stay away from and do not touch unfamiliar animals.
• Keep pets away from wildlife.
• Supervise children when they are around animals.
• Do not let pets roam free.
• Feed pets indoors. Feeding pets outdoors can attract other unwanted animals.
• Report all incidents where rabies may have been transmitted as well as potentially rabid animals as outlined above.

Humans

Wash the wound with soap and water, get medical attention right away, especially if the animal is wild or stray, and report the incident to the Brant County Health Unit.  Healthcare professionals will determine your treatment which may include rabies vaccination.

In most cases where the animal involved is known and not stray or wild, the Health Unit will not recommend vaccination. The Health Unit will request the animal owner to keep the animal confined to the house or at the SPCA for 10 days to ensure the animal does not have the rabies virus.

If rabies vaccination treatment is recommended, the Brant County Health Unit will advise you to consult with your healthcare provider.  The Brant County Health Unit does not administer the vaccine, but will ensure your healthcare provider has it for you. Vaccination treatment will involve four visits to your healthcare provider.

If you have been vaccinated against rabies in the past, you should still contact your healthcare provider.

Pets

By law, all dogs and cats three months of age and over must have an up-to-date rabies vaccination status.  Failure to do so can result in legal action including ticketing or appearing in court.  Consult your veterinarian about your pets’ vaccine schedule.

Wildlife Vaccine Baiting Program

Each year, the Government of Ontario controls rabies in wildlife by dropping baits that contain the vaccine in urban, forested, and rural agricultural areas, including Brant County and Brantford.

If your livestock or pet eats one bait packet they may get an upset stomach but there’s no need to worry. If they eat more than one bait pack, call your veterinarian.

To learn more about this program visit Ontario.ca – Rabies in Wildlife

There are many Acts, Regulations, and by-laws to help control rabies and support rabies investigations.

In Ontario, these include:

• R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 557 Communicable Diseases – General
• R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 567 Rabies Immunization
• Dog Owners’ Liability Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D.16
• Ontario Regulation 157/05 Pit Bull Controls

• Health Protection and Promotion Act, Regulation 567 Rabies  Immunization
• Health Protection and Promotion Act, Regulation 557 Communicable Diseases – General
• Rabies (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
• Rabies (Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians)
• Rabies Public Portal (Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians)
• Rabies Vaccine Clinics (Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians)
  
• Rabies Prevention and Control Protocol, 2018 (Ontario Public Health Standards)
• Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs – Rabies in Ontario
• Ontario.ca – Rabies in Wildlife
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Capturing a bat in your home