Spring has arrived!

PLEASE SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER WITH YOUR RABIES PROGRAM TEAM AND ALL PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTORS

OAVT RRP Submission Request Form Update

There has been a minor change to the PHU Rabies Specimen Collection Request Submission Form. You now have the ability to enter an extension number directly after the phone number which means you no longer need to make an "Additional Note" to indicate the extension number for the contact person. Although it is a small change we know that it will help streamline the submission process and be more efficient for the Public Health Inspectors having to complete the forms.

What Are The Risks Associated With Importing Foreign Animals?

One of the primary risks surrounding the importation of foreign companion animals is the possibility of introducing pathogens that are uncommon or rare in Canada. Many of these pathogens are zoonotic, meaning they carry the risk of causing illness in humans.

The Canadian National Canine Importation Working Group was created to develop recommendations on how to mitigate disease risks associated with the importation of companion animals (in particular, dogs). They were also tasked with addressing welfare issues associated with the transportation of clinically ill companion animals within and at the Canadian borders.

In 2016, the Working Group published a report which "identified 9 diseases/disease groups of primary concern with regard to importation into and inter-regional movement of dogs within Canada". Those diseases/disease groups are:

Brucellosis - zoonotic
Canine Influzenza
Leishmaniasis - zoonotic
Rabies - zoonotic
Alveoloar echinococcosis - zoonotic
Canine lungworm - zoonotic
Canine Heartworm - zoonotic
Tick-borne diseases - some are zoonotic
Screwworm - zoonotic

Click here to review the report in its entirety.

Importing & Travelling With Pets

The requirements for importing an animal into Canada will vary depending on:

species
reason for entry
age
Country of Origin

The requirements for importing a companion animal may include (but is not limited to):

Microchip
Rabies vaccination
Health certificate

At this time there is no mandatory quarantine period for animals entering Canada but if the import requirements are not met it is likely that the CFIA will order the animal removed from Canada.

For more details on the requirements for importing pets visit Bringing animals to Canada: Importing and travelling with pets.

CFIA Report on Rabies in Canada

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has a website with statistics on all rabies cases in Canada (including the MNRF cases reported above) dating back to 1988. They update their website on the 28^th day of each month.

As of January 31^st, 2023 there has been a total of 147 animals submitted across the country, including 100 which were submitted by Ontario. Of these cases, 4 were positive for rabies, none of which were from Ontario.

Visit the CFIA website for more information on rabies in Canada.

Rabies in Ontario - MNRF Report

The MNRF is reporting on their results of wildlife testing (with no human/animal exposure), surveillance and bait drops. As of March 15^th, 2023 the MNRF is reporting a total of 517 cases of raccoon strain and 21 cases (expired) of fox strain rabies in Ontario since the outbreak began in December 2015.

In 2023, the MNRF has tested a total of 916 animals, all of which were negative for rabies.

The total number of raccoon strain cases since the outbreak began in 2015 are distributed among the following Public Health Units:

Hamilton: 215 raccoons, 112 skunks, 1 fox, 2 cats
Haldimand-Norfolk: 30 raccoons, 2 skunks, 1 llama
Niagara: 47 raccoons, 46 skunks, 1 dog
Brant: 26 raccoons, 2 skunk
Halton: 17 raccoons, 9 skunks
Waterloo: 2 skunks

The total number of fox strain cases since the outbreak began in 2015 are distributed among the following Public Health Units:

Perth: 6 cows, 2 skunks
Huron: 1 cow, 3 skunks
Waterloo: 1 fox, 5 skunks
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph: 3 skunks

The last case of fox strain rabies was detected in 2018. No cases have been detected in 2019-2022.

The MNRF has launched a new interactive map to help provide more information about where rabies cases have been detected and where wildlife testing has been done. The map lets you select the testing year/s, strain types, and can be zoomed in to specific municipalities.

Rabies Vaccine Clinics

The RRP continues to maintain the Rabies Vaccine web page and associated Facebook page. This is a central area where we can post details of rabies vaccine clinics happening across the entire province.

If you would like us to include your Rabies Vaccine Clinic on our web page/Facebook page then please email the following information to rrp@oavt.org:

Location of the clinic
Date and time
Cost and methods of payment accepted
Requirements (i.e. all dogs must be leashed, all cats must be in a carrier)
An image or PDF for the event

The OAVT Public Health Rabies Response Program

107-100 Stone Rd West

Guelph, ON

N1G 5L3

1-844-8RABIES

www.oavtrrp.org

rrp@oavt.org

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