Rabies
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) of warm-blooded animals (mammals) such as raccoons, skunks, fox, coyotes, and bats.
Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. All animals that get the rabies disease die. Rabies is also fatal to humans if it is not treated.
To reduce the risk of infection and avoid getting rabies yourself, leave unfamiliar animals alone and report any incidents of stray or animals acting strangely to the local animal control office. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, report the exposure to the Porcupine Health Unit, by calling the 24-hour on-call service at (705)267-1181 or 1-800-461-1818.
Seek medical attention immediately. Upon notification of an exposure, the Porcupine Health Unit will immediately begin an investigation by interviewing the victim and confine the animal involved in the biting for a ten-day period. In cases where the animal cannot be confined (due to a death or a stray), consultations will be made with the physician and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Animal Health Branch veterinarian, to determine the need for further rabies testing of the animal and/or administration of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis to the victim.
Prompt reporting of the incident is required to ensure timely investigations to determine if post-exposure prophylaxis is required.
Click the following links for more information about rabies:
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rabies page
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Ministry of Natural Resources Rabies Reporter page
Last reviewed: February 3, 2011