Rabies is a disease spread by the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Rabies cases in 2019. Much of this is due to Ontario regulations related to wildlife removal. However, genetic analysis of the virus circulating in Hamilton demonstrated that a simple cross-border spread was not the source of this outbreak. The Strategy to Eliminate Raccoon Rabies in Ontario July 14, 2018 by Bill Dowd Rabies is a common virus among wild species across the world, which affects animals once passed through blood, bodily fluids, bites, and scratches. This outbreak required a combination of oral rabies vaccine delivery approaches, such as distribution of baits by hand in the urban centres and by helicopter in large urban green spaces. Though case incidence appears to be declining, several years will likely be required to reach elimination. Keep your trash bins strapped and sealed and consult a raccoon removal specialist to remove the animals from your property. A scratch and bite from a rabid animal will almost always transmit the disease to another animal or a human. Following confirmation of the first case of raccoon rabies in Hamilton in December 2015, Hamilton Public Health Services activated a raccoon rabies response based on the MOHLTC raccoon rabies contingency plan, and revised its rabies risk assessment tool to reflect the change in local epidemiology (i.e. Wunner WH, Conzelmann KK. No matter what behavior a raccoon is exhibiting, it is crucial to call a raccoon removal specialist at the first sighting of a raccoon invasion within your yard. Four more confirmed cases of raccoon rabies have been discovered in Hamilton, as the deadly infectious disease claws its way back into Ontario after a decade away. Figure 2: Number of clients received rPEP in Hamilton Region in 2015 and 2016, Abbreviation: rPEP, rabies postexposure prophylaxis. The Algonquian words aroughcun and aroughcoune mean “one that rubs, scrubs, and scratches with its hands.” (See also Indigenous Languages in Canada.) These measures include immunizing rac-coons along selected border areas of eastern Ontario and the Niagara peninsula in efforts to maintain population immunity [3]. Because raccoon rabies has been eliminated from ne … RACCOON ( PROCYON LOTOR) RESPONSE TO ONTARIO RABIES VACCINE BAITS (ONRAB) IN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, NEW YORK, USA J Wildl Dis. It was positive for raccoon rabies, which was last seen in Ontario between 1999 to 2005 in the eastern part of the province. It was first detected in Ontario in 1999Footnote 5 and was localized to two rural areas in eastern Ontario with 132 laboratory-confirmed cases detected over six years. incursions of raccoon rabies into eastern Ontario. As reported by the Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry: We are reporting 1 new case of raccoon rabies in one skunk in Niagara (Welland) (September 9, 2020). A multi-agency report entitled “Raccoon Rabies Outbreak in Hamilton, Ontario: A Progress Report” cites the rabies outbreak’ origins as a long-distance translocation into the area from New York. Bait distribution in the urban core required coordinated messaging from Hamilton Public Health Services, MNRF and OMAFRA to advise the public who came across or into contact with these baits. Rabies vaccine bait identification The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry July 2020 The Ultra-lite vaccine bait, ONRAB®, is used in Ontario for both fox strain and raccoon strain rabies control. Knowledge of raccoon ecology, in particular density and movements, has been a… The source of this outbreak was explored by comparing the whole-genome sequence of two virus isolates from Hamilton with a large database of raccoon variant rabies virus genomes from across the eastern US. Authors Kerri Pedersen 1 , Amy T Gilbert 1 , Kathleen M Nelson 2 , Daniel P Morgan 3 , Amy J Davis 1 , Kurt C VerCauteren 1 , … In the US, the domestic animal species most commonly reported with rabies is the cat, with the majority from areas endemic for raccoon rabiesFootnote 11. Surveillance for rabies in Canada is based on a passive model whereby only suspect animals that have potentially exposed people or domestic animals are tested for rabies. The report concluded that an infected raccoon was transported into the area via shipping or transport truck. A multi-agency report entitled “ Raccoon Rabies Outbreak in Hamilton, Ontario: A Progress Report ” cites the rabies outbreak’ origins as a long-distance translocation into the area from New York. That is, raccoons are known to carry rabies, and they have a specific variant of the disease named after them. Such actions may contribute to earlier detection of new rabies incursions. The City of Hamilton rabies webpage had 7,393 unique visitors between October 2016 and May 2017, with users spending an average of 3.6 minutes on the webpage and 83% leaving without going elsewhere on the website. Rabies in Ontario. That is, raccoons are known to carry rabies, and they have a … The raccoon had been involved in … In Ontario, cases of rabid raccoons are significantly decreasing. In 2013, Hamilton Public Health Services was one of six health units in Ontario that helped form a community One Health committee. 2019 Jul;55(3):645-653. doi: 10.7589/2018-09-216. The viruses circulating just across the border in New York state, where raccoon rabies has been endemic since the late 1990s, were phylogenetically very distinct from those responsible for the Hamilton outbreak, supporting the conclusion that this epizootic represents a long-distance translocation into the areaFootnote 10. The animals are certainly a nuisance, particularly when they continue to ransack waste bins, but it is important to avoid attempting to confront a raccoon simply for the reason that the raccoon in question could have rabies. As the outbreak progresses, there is a risk that more cases of raccoon rabies in domestic animal species could occur. Campaign banners at 46 different transit shelters were estimated to have had over 13 million views over an 8-week period. Ontario was declared to be free of raccoon rabies strain in 2005. San Diego: Elsevier Inc; 2013. pp. The baits were distributed by hand in urban areas, by helicopter in large urban green spaces and by fixed-wing aircraft in surrounding rural areas across the enhanced surveillance area. Can Vet J. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2000;49(2):31-5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10680602?dopt=Abstract, Wandeler AI, Salsberg EB. Once signs of rabies appear, in any animal, the disease is fatal. The most common rabies carriers in Canada are raccoons, with 50 confirmed cases in southwestern Ontario in 2018. Between December 2015 and June 2017, 338 animals tested positive for raccoon rabies in Ontario. First, it’s important to note that rabies is relatively rare. Still, there are instances where bats (the number one carrier of rabies) can attack raccoons and this makes the problem potentially dangerous for humans since raccoons frequent yards and homes in search of food. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry responded with an intensive program of point infection control and vaccination, resulting in the elimination of raccoon strain rabies … We are currently at 479 cases of raccoon strain, and 21 cases of fox strain rabies in Ontario … Rabies in Canada 2014 [cited 2017 Oct 14]. Geographical attribution of positive animals was based on local public health unit boundaries. Scratching and biting are the two defenses that raccoons use the most often. Other animals also carry rabies in Canada. Of these, 251 (74%) were from the area around Hamilton. However, it can have a significant impact on wildlife populations (especially the reservoir species – bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes – in which specific rabies virus variants circulate) and therefore the ecosystems in which they live. At the federal level, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) provides rabies laboratory testing services for animal and human samples. Rabies management in Ontario Rabies – Scientific basis of the disease and its management. It describes the control measures undertaken to curb the spread of the epizootic and the collaborative One Health approach used by the many agencies involved in the response. Although these animals can be a particularly enraging nuisance, never approach a raccoon. Niagara Region Public Health says so far in 2020, three raccoons have tested positive for rabies. As a result, Hamilton Public Health Services had well-established relationships in place before the identification of this epizootic, which helped in the rapid implementation of the raccoon rabies response. The … [ACCORDION][ACCORDION_ITEM] [ACCORDION_TITLE]What Happens if a Case of Raccoon Rabies is Confirmed in Ontario? A removal specialist can deter any attacks from rabid raccoons and can safely remove the animals from your home. Ontario (Rosatte et al. The last rabid skunk reported in Ontario was in 2016 near Stratford. Eventually this rabies variant converged with the southern variant in North Carolina. Raccoons are classed as rabies vector species (RVS). Indeed, although the majority of cases have been in wildlife, this is the first time that the raccoon rabies virus variant was identified in domestic animal species in Canada. The prior existence of contingency plans at MOHLTC (human health response) and MNRF (wildlife rabies control) as well as the existence of the community One Health committee in Hamilton, were key to the speed with which response measures involving diverse programmatic activities were put in place. At the time of this publication, Hamilton Region and surrounding area continue to experience an epizootic of raccoon rabies. Using data extrapolated from a temporal clustering of raccoon rabies cases in Ontario, the incubation period was estimated at a mode of approximately 5 weeks (Tinline et al., 2002). Rabies virus is a Lyssavirus in the family Rhabdoviridae. Trop Med Infect Dis 2017;2(21):1-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed2030021, Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The map and table below identify areas where positive rabies cases have been found, using information reported by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Local public health units are responsible for all activities dealing with prevention of rabies cases in humans, including postexposure case management of people potentially exposed to rabies virus, provision of rabies postexposure prophylaxis (rPEP) vaccine to primary care providers, and raising public awareness. San Diego: Elsevier Inc; 2013. pp. Between December 2015 and June 2017, 338 animals tested positive for raccoon rabies in Ontario. Viral genome sequencing determined that this epizootic was likely caused by long-distance translocation from the United States. Ontario has also long been at risk for the incursion of raccoon strain rabies, which is widespread in the northeastern United States, with cases occurring in northern and western New York state along the border with Ontario. These are Ontario’s first raccoon rabies cases since 2005. In the following 19 months, raccoons with rabies were identified in areas surrounding Hamilton including Niagara Region, Brant County, Halton Region and Haldimand–Norfolk. Raccoons are classed as rabies vector species (RVS). Rabies is a disease spread by the bite or scratch of an infected animal. In one of the Hamilton cases, two unvaccinated dogs came into contact with a rabid raccoon. In December 2015, MNRF implemented enhanced rabies surveillance in an area extending 50 kilometers beyond where all diagnosed cases were found, with weekly testing of sick or found-dead animals with no known human or domestic animal contact, using a direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT)Footnote 8. Members of the committee met with local veterinary professionals, animal control services and representatives from other agencies to discuss diseases prevalent in both humans and animals, and share information about various environmental risk factors. 61-121. Viral variants are viral populations that are maintained in specific host reservoirs in a geographic area and are distinct from other viral populations that may be located in the same area or that have diverged from a common viral ancestorFootnote 2. Raccoon rabies outbreak in Hamilton, Ontario: A progress report. For example, distribution of baits by low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, as is standard for oral vaccination campaigns in rural areas, is not possible in urban areas. These procedures were carried out by the Centre of Expertise for Rabies at the CFIA. Raccoons are a top vector for rabies and its transmission to humans. Raccoons also are the reservoir for the raccoon variant of rabies in eastern North America, including Ontario (Debbie 1991; Rosatte et al. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is responsible for rabies control activities in wildlife, which include enhanced surveillance in wildlife populations at risk, testing of samples and mass vaccination programs. It was successfully eliminated in 2005 with Ontario being declared free of raccoon rabies in September 2007Footnote 6. With this being said, there are still cases of rabid raccoons that pop up every now and again. Rabies management in Ontario We are currently at 480 cases of raccoon strain, and 21 cases of fox strain rabies in Ontario … As such, key public health messages include encouraging vaccination of all dogs and cats and avoidance of contact with stray animals that are unlikely to be vaccinated. This will ensure that there is no possibility of the animals, either normal or rabid, from even attempting to spread the disease to yourself, your loved ones, or your pets. In contrast, in 2014 only 18 rabies cases were detected in the entire province, all in batsFootnote 9. Despite these measures, since 1999 outbreaks of raccoon rabies have occurred in Ontario [4–6] and in the eastern Canadian provinces of New Brunswick [6] and Quebec [7]. The One Health approach applies a coordinated, collaborative, multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral effort to address potential or existing risks that originate at the animal–human–ecosystems interfaceFootnote 7. In the following 19 months, raccoons with rabies were identified in areas surrounding Hamilton including Niagara Region, Brant County, Halton Region and Haldimand–Norfolk. This variant has since spread north along the eastern seaboard to Ontario, Canada, and was reported in northwest Ohio in 1996. In both cases, samples were shipped directly to CFIA for testing. Volume 44-5, May 3, 2018: Emergency Response, D Lobo1*, C DeBenedet2, C Fehlner-Gardiner3, S Nadin-Davis3, M Anderson4, T Buchanan5, K Middel5, C Filejski6, J Hopkins7,8*, 1 Public Health and Preventive Medicine Residency Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, 2 Hamilton Public Health Services, Hamilton, ON, 3 Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, ON, 4 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Guelph, ON, 5 Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, ON, 6 Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Toronto, ON, 8 Department of Health Research Methods, Epidemiology, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Lobo D, DeBenedet C, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Nadin-Davis SA, Anderson MEC, Buchanan T, Middel K, Filejski C, Hopkins J. Raccoon rabies outbreak in Hamilton, Ontario: A progress report. On top of that they are prey species for larger mammals including; coyotes, foxes, dogs, wolves, great horned owls, and humans. However, in 2015/16, several raccoons and skunks in Hamilton, Haldimand County and Niagara were confirmed to been infected with rabies. These are Ontario’s first raccoon rabies cases since 2005. Assessing the role of long-distance translocation and spatial heterogeneity in the raccoon rabies epidemic in Connecticut. Rabies – Scientific basis of the disease and its management. With these statistics, it is crucially important to keep the trend in decline. Continued collaboration is necessary to again eliminate raccoon rabies from Ontario. Raccoon removal for residential and commercial clients. Objective: This paper describes the raccoon rabies outbreak in Ontario (identified in December 2015) and the control measures undertaken to curb the spread of the epizootic using the One Health approach. Raccoon rabies originally emerged in the state of Florida in the 1940s, spreading to the Mid-Atlantic states in the 1970s. We are currently at 477 cases of raccoon strain, and … A further complication of this urban rabies outbreak lies in the large populations of potential spillover hosts, such as dogs and cats, further raising concern for an increased risk of transmission to humans. It is important to find a balance between the risk of an incursion going undetected for a period of time and the cost of enhanced surveillance programs. Hamilton Public Health Services sent out medical advisories informing primary care providers about the raccoon rabies epidemic and the criteria for rPEP and created an educational video on rPEP administration. Help keep the trend in decline. While the majority of the cases were raccoons, there was significant spillover into striped skunks, as well as other species including two cats, a fox and a llama. The responsibility for rabies control in Canada is shared across multiple jurisdictions and reflects the One Health approach, a concept that recognizes the relationships between public health, animal health and the environment. Raccoons are one of the most successful carnivore species in North America, occupying a variety of habitats (Rosatte 2000). Billboard viewership estimates were provided by the billboard owners and social media views were calculated by the communication team. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2017;250(10):1117-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.250.10.1117, Smith DL, Waller LA, Russell CA, Childs JE, Real LA. San Diego: Elsevier Inc; 2013. pp. The most common rabies carriers in Canada are raccoons, with 50 confirmed cases in southwestern Ontario in 2018. The collaborative approach between the various interdisciplinary agencies at the federal (CFIA), provincial (MOHLTC, OMAFRA and MNRF) and local levels (public health units, local animal control and private veterinary professionals) has been instrumental in addressing this raccoon rabies epizootic. “It’s unfortunate to have cases of raccoon rabies reappearing in Ontario,” says Dale Lyttle, Senior Public Health Inspector. Overall guidance for local public health units: Assistance to veterinarians regarding risk assessment, sample submission, postexposure management, Enhanced rabies surveillance including dRIT testing, Notification to primary care providers and revised rabies risk assessment tool, Notification to veterinary professionals and animal services personnel, Primary care providers  and veterinarians, Clinical management of potentially exposed cases and administration of rPEP, Clinical management of potentially exposed cases and administration of rabies vaccine, Retrieval and preservation of dead animals for further testing or disposition, Abbreviations: CFIA: Canadian Food Inspection Agency; dRIT, direct rapid immunohistochemical test; MOHLTC, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; MNRF, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry; NA, not applicable; OMAFRA, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs; rPEP, rabies postexposure prophylaxis. Two raccoons found in St. Catharines have tested positive for rabies. The outbreak of raccoon rabies in southwestern Ontario is by far the largest to have occurred in Canada. Since reporting began in 1924, a total of 25 people in six provinces have died of rabies in Canada, Professional Raccoon Exclusion from Decks, Professional and Humane Raccoon Baby Removal, Professional Raccoon Removal From Chimneys. Ontario Rabies Update for August 12, 2020 – 3 New Cases 3 new cases of raccoon rabies in two raccoons (reported last week but weren’t on the map yet) and one skunk in Niagara (St. Catherines) (August 12, 2020). It also differs from previous outbreaks in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick in that it is centred in a densely populated urban area. With this being said, even with a decrease in cases, rabid raccoons in Ontario represent the largest intake of cases regarding rabies from raccoons. This is the first time Ontario has had a positive case of raccoon rabies since September 2005, although cases have continued to show up in bordering New York State. Rabies in Ontario. At least four individuals are receiving treatment due to contact with the raccoons. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry believes the rogue raccoon hitchhiked its way into the province, possibly on the back of a tractor trailer. Of these, 326 (4.89%) were identified by dRIT and confirmed by fluorescent antibody testing and subsequent variant typing as positive for raccoon rabies (Table 2). An additional 12 cases were identified during this time from samples submitted by MOHLTC or OMAFRA. Ontario. Rabies does not have a direct environmental impact as it is a mammalian virus and very fragile outside of the body. In: Jackson AC, editor. In this sense, the contributions of public health, OMAFRA and MNRF round out the One Health players in terms of human, animal and environmental health. No new cases of rabies detected this week (November 25, 2020). The decision to test a suspect animal that had potentially exposed domestic animals alone to rabies was made by OMAFRA, typically in collaboration with the exposed animal's veterinarian. 3rd Edition). In Ontario, cases of rabid raccoons are significantly decreasing. When threatened, a raccoon will almost always attack another animal or a human being. Investigation and Results: Representatives from local, provincial and federal agencies collectively activated a raccoon rabies response that involved policy updates, enhanced surveillance, a public education campaign and mass vaccination of wildlife and domestic animals. Between December 2015 and June 2017, MNRF distributed over 1.7 million baits containing ONRAB® (live adenovirus vector AdRG 1.3) oral rabies vaccine during campaigns in December 2015, spring 2016 and fall 2016. The Ministry of Natural Resources has dropped about 220,000 raccoon baits in the area in a bid to quash an outbreak of raccoon rabies in the Hamilton, Ont., … In the interest of brevity, for this report "raccoon rabies" is used to mean rabies caused by the raccoon variant rabies virus, whether the disease is present in raccoons or another species. Introduction of raccoon rabies into Canada in the past has typically resulted from cross-border spread and thus the viral variants on either side of the US–Canada border were very similar. In 2016, raccoon rabies was identified in Niagara for the first time. Hamilton Public Health Services continues to work with Community Veterinary Outreach, which provides pet care for people facing financial pressures, to offer rabies vaccination at a lower cost so pets and people are protected from rabies. Cases of distemper in raccoons generally fluctuate throughout the year, but animal control services, the SPCA and the local humane societies all report a spike in the number of cases occurring during the mid-winter and early spring. Much of this is due to Ontario regulations related to wildlife removal. The largest outbreak, first reported in December 2015 in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, has resulted in the reporting of … Ontario instituted rabies control programs more than 20 years ago, and in the summer of 2015 distributed more than 100,000 baits containing rabies vaccine. Thus, even jurisdictions deemed at low risk of a rabies incursion should have contingency plans in place for such an event. The Origins of the Rabies Outbreak. It appears that the disease was introduced after a long-distance translocation of a diseased raccoon either by water (shipping) or by land (transport trucking), which has been previously describedFootnote 12. The rabies outbreak first surfaced in December 2015 after a raccoon picked up by City of Hamilton Animal Services tested positive for the virus. The animals that most often transmit rabies in Ontario are bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons. Below is an updated geographical depiction of number of raccoon strains of rabies in Ontario up to February 2019. A raccoon will almost always lash out and attack when it feels threatened, this is how human beings contract rabies. Attempting to remove a raccoon on your own is against regulations and this is for good reason. We are currently at  480  cases of raccoon strain, and  21  cases of fox strain rabies in Ontario to date. Ontario racoon tests positive for rabies Issued: Thursday, December 17, 2015. DL – Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Writing-Original draft, Writing-Review and editing, Visualization, CDB – Writing-Review and editing, Investigation, CFG – Writing-Review and editing, Investigation, SAND – Writing-Review and editing, Investigation, TB – Writing-Review and editing, Formal analysis, Investigation, KM – Writing-Review and editing, Investigation, JH – Conceptualization, Writing-Review and editing, Investigation, Supervision. 2006). Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. This is despite expectations of rabies incidence in Niagara before the St. Lawrence based on the progression of rabies from New York. Prev Vet Med 2005;71(3-4):225-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2005.07.009. Chapter 3: Epidemiology. http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/rabies/rabies-in-canada-2014/eng/1424879193262/1424879195231, Trewby H, Nadin-Davis SA, Real LA, Biek R. Processes underlying rabies virus incursions across US-Canada border as revealed by whole-genome phylogeography. Between December 2015 and June 2017, MNRF tested 6,685 animals (wildlife species with no known human or domestic animal exposure) using dRIT. More raccoons infected with rabies have been found in Hamilton in Ontario's first outbreak of that strain of the virus in a decade. It has since spread throughout the eastern seaboard of the United States (US), reaching the Canada–US border in the mid-1990sFootnote 3Footnote 4. You will not receive a reply. It attacks the brain and spinal cord of …