2023-06-11 11:00:32
The Ministry of the Environment, the Fight once morest Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks of Quebec invites the population to be vigilant in their fight once morest raccoon rabies.
This advisory particularly applies to the Estrie and Montérégie regions due to the outbreak of rabies observed in the Burlington area in the United States.
Surveillance will even be increased in 18 municipalities: Bedford, Clarenceville, Dunham, Frelighsburg, Henryville, Lacolle, Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge, Noyan, Pike River, Saint-Armand, Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Saint-Ignace- de-Stanbridge, Saint-Paul-de-l’Île-aux-Noix, Saint-Sébastien, Saint-Valentin, Stanbridge East, Stanbridge Station and Venise-en-Québec.
The public is also invited to report raccoons, skunks and foxes that are dead or appear disoriented, injured, abnormally aggressive or paralyzed by calling 1 877 346-6763 or by filling out an online form.
Remember that rabies is a contagious and fatal disease affecting all mammals. It can therefore be transmitted from an infected animal to humans. In addition to raccoon rabies, other variants of rabies circulate in Quebec, notably among bats and, in northern Quebec, among foxes.
Behaviors to adopt
The Department has also distributed a list of behaviors to adopt in the presence of these same animals.
If a person has been bitten or scratched by an animal or has come into contact with its saliva, the wound should be cleaned immediately with soap and water for 10 minutes. Contacting Info-Santé 811 is then recommended to obtain adequate medical follow-up.
The government authority also asks never to approach an unknown, wild or domestic animal, even if it looks harmless.
It is also possible to take measures to avoid attracting wild animals to your property, whether by storing garbage cans out of the reach of animals or by not feeding pets outside. These same pets should be vaccinated once morest rabies as soon as possible when they move out of the house.
In case of capture, care should be taken to avoid moving unwanted animals to another territory, as this might spread disease. (N.P.)
1686482588
#Raccoon #Rabies #Vigilance #Notice
