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Animal-transmitted diseases

About rabies

Rabies is a fatal viral disease spread to humans from the bite or scratch of an infected animal.

Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. Learn how to protect yourself.

Raccoon standing by a tree
Learn how to protect against rabies

If you've been bitten or scratched by an animal

1
Wash the wound.
Use soap and antiseptic under running water for 15 minutes immediately.
2
See a doctor.
Discuss your exposure. Rabies vaccine may need to be given soon after exposure.
3
Report it.
Call Public Health at 905-688-8248 ext. 7590. Provide as much information about the animal as possible.

Animals to watch for in Niagara

  • Bats (highest risk)
  • Skunks
  • Raccoons
  • Dogs and cats (if not vaccinated)

Small mammals like mice, chipmunks and squirrels are rarely infected with rabies.

How rabies spreads

  • Bites and scratches from infected animals
  • Infected saliva entering wounds or mucous membranes (mouth, nose, eyes)
  • Direct contact with bats (even without visible bite)

Recognizing rabid animals

It can be hard to determine if an animal has rabies. Animals may show a variety of signs ranging from:

  • Unusual withdrawal or shyness
  • Aggression or unusual boldness
  • Difficulty walking or moving
  • Excessive drooling

Detailed information

Rabies is transmitted through infected saliva from bites and scratches. At this point there will be no symptoms of rabies in the person bitten.

When the virus enters the body, it spreads through the nervous system until it reaches the brain. Once in the brain, the virus multiplies quickly and symptoms appear. The distance of virus entry from the brain will determine the length of time it takes for rabies symptoms to appear.

In some cases, rabies symptoms may not appear for up to six months after the bite. It's never too late to start rabies vaccination following an animal bite.

Every owner or person with care or custody of a cat, dog or ferret three months of age or over must have them immunized against rabies according to R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 567: Rabies Immunization.

To help protect against rabies:

  • Don't feed wild animals
  • Warn your children to stay away from wild or stray animals
  • Don't attempt to trap wild animals on your property
  • Don't keep wildlife as pets
  • Don't touch dead or sick animals
  • Don't try to nurse sick animals to health
  • Don't relocate any wild animals

If your animal was potentially exposed to a wild animal and you did not sustain any exposure, contact your local veterinarian for follow-up.

If you're calling to report wild animals living on your property and / or found a sick animal, contact your local humane society.

If your animal bites or scratches a person, the incident should be reported to Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services for follow-up.

To report the incident:

A Public Health inspector will contact you to collect some information, including confirming your animal's health status and to explain the 10-day observation period.

Vaccination requirements

Certain animals set out in Ontario Regulation 567 must have current rabies vaccination as per Ontario Regulation 567. If your animal was involved in a bite or scratch incident, the assigned health inspector will follow-up with the animal's vaccination status and recommend ways to get your animal vaccinated if there is financial need.

Vaccination may be considered in the following circumstances.

  • If you get a bite or scratch on your neck or head, you might need to start rabies treatment right away. However, if the animal is a pet, has all its rabies shots, the bite was provoked, and rabies isn't common in your area, you might be able to wait.
  • If the animal can be watched for a certain time by the health department, you don't need to start treatment right away. You can wait until after the observation period as advised by Public Health.
  • If the animal tests positive for rabies by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the local health unit will work with your doctor and others to handle the situation
  • If you have contact with a bat, rabies treatment is needed if the bat touches or lands on you and bites, scratches, or gets its saliva in a wound or on a mucous membrane. Signs of contact include waking up crying or yelling or finding a new bite or scratch. For kids or adults who can't clearly explain what happened, any contact with a bat, even through clothes, should be treated as a reason to start rabies treatment.

If the exposure is from a bat, there must be direct contact (the bat touching or landing on a person) AND a bite, scratch or saliva exposure into a wound or mucous membrane.

Signs that show direct contact has happened include:

  • An individual waking up crying or yelling
  • The presence of a new bite or scratch.

Special consideration: For children or adults unable to give a reliable history, any direct contact with a bat, even through clothes, should be a reason for intervention.

If you're unsure about your exposure:

Have a question?

Contact Environmental Health