ONTARIO ELIMINATES RACCOON RABIES

For Immediate Release
April 23, 2008

ONTARIO ELIMINATES RACCOON RABIES
McGuinty Government Protects People And Wildlife

NEWS

Raccoon rabies has been eliminated in Ontario.

Since the first case in 1999, Ontario has had 132 cases of raccoon rabies.  International standards, set by the World Organization for Animal Health, requires two years without a case of rabies before a jurisdiction can confirm it has eliminated a particular strain of rabies. 

The last confirmed case of raccoon strain rabies in Ontario was in September 2005. 

The ministry has eliminated the disease through a combination of rabies vaccine baits, Trap-Vaccinate-Release and Point of Infection Control programs.

Ontario will continue monitoring for raccoon rabies to ensure early warning of possible new outbreaks.

QUOTES

“This success wouldn’t be possible without my ministry’s world-leading efforts in rabies research and control.  We will continue to work tirelessly in protecting the health and safety of all Ontarians, pets and wildlife,” said Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield. 

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario’s rabies control programs are so successful that several states and provinces have adopted the same programs.  New Brunswick successfully eliminated raccoon strain rabies using methods pioneered in Ontario.
• Southern Ontario has approximately 1.1 million raccoons.
• Incidence of fox strain rabies is down 97 per cent since 1989, with only 44 cases in 2007.

LEARN MORE

Learn more about rabies prevention and control programs in Ontario.

Read more about rabies.

For More Information

Media Enquiries

David Bauer, Minister’s Office, 416-314-2212

Jolanta Kowalski, Communications Services Branch, 416-314-2106

General Enquiries

Natural Resources Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)