Brantford, ON – Laboratory testing has confirmed rabies in one raccoon found in the City of Brantford. The raccoon is now deceased.
“While the risk of coming across an animal with rabies in Brantford is still low, people should be pay attention when outside,” says Jeff Kowal, Manager, Environmental Health at the Brant County Health Unit. “We recommend staying away from any animal you don’t know. If you see an animal showing rabies symptoms, keep away from it and phone Brant County SPCA at 519-756-6620 as soon as possible to report the animal.”
Symptoms of rabies in animals include:
The Brant County Health Unit investigates all animal bites or scratches on humans reported by the public. If you or a human family member is bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal:
It is important to start the rabies investigation process as soon as a bite or scratch incident occurs. Untreated rabies is potentially fatal.
“Keeping all pets up-to-date with rabies vaccinations is another important way to help protect against rabies,” says Kowal. In humans, suspected rabies exposure can be treated with a vaccine after a bite or scratch, while pets must be vaccinated before a bite or scratch from another animal in order to be protected.
For more information about rabies in humans please visit www.bchu.org/rabies or phone 519-753-4937 ext. 470. For more information about rabies in pets please phone the Brant County SPCA at 519-756-6620.
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