rabies vaccination blitz underway for quebec wildlife, including in nine montreal parks

quebec is launching a vaccination blitz in several regions, including the montreal area, in an effort to immunize more wildlife against rabies.quebec’s environment, climate change, wildlife and parks ministry announced monday it will distribute nearly 815,000 vaccine baits starting now until sept. 13 in the eastern townships, montérégie and centre-du-québec regions. the campaign also targets nine parks in montreal.the move comes after the province said last week it had confirmed its first case of raccoon rabies in a domestic cat, in the montérégie region, prompting officials to urge pet owners to ensure their animals are vaccinated. three people were treated for rabies after bites from the infected stray cat.“this vaccination campaign aims to continue efforts to immunize raccoons, skunks and foxes, particularly young raccoons, against rabies,” the ministry said in a statement. “at this time of year, young raccoons make up more than 45 per cent of the population and are old enough to eat the vaccine bait and become immunized.”the vaccine baits will be manually spread over a 5,500-square-kilometre area, covering wooded areas, riverbanks and the borders of agricultural fields. the edges of abandoned buildings and spots near garbage cans will also be targeted.the ministry says more than 246,000 baits were distributed since april, and more than 3,800 animals have been vaccinated during capture-vaccinate-release operations in the same time frame.rabies is a contagious and fatal disease that attacks the nervous system. it can be spread to humans and animals primarily through bites and scratches from an infected animal. it is one of the "most serious diseases transmissible to humans because it is fatal as soon as general symptoms appear," the province warns.quebecers are advised to vaccinate their pets against rabies and keep their vaccinations up to date. contact a veterinarian to "determine the risk of infection if they have been in contact with a wild animal or if they show any suspicious signs of rabies," the ministry said.anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal or has come into contact with its saliva should clear the wound with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes. they must then contact the info-santé 811 line "immediately for appropriate medical followup," the ministry advises, noting that if the infected animal is a pet, they should obtain the owner's contact information.

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