A second feline has tested positive for raccoon rabies in Saint-Anicet, Quebec, located in the Montérégie region. According to Santé Québec Montérégie-Centre, three individuals needed preventive treatment after encountering the infected cat. This incident occurred a week following the diagnosis of a first cat with rabies in Godmanchester, also within the Montérégie area.

Santé Québec emphasizes the importance of keeping pets’ vaccinations current as cases of raccoon rabies continue to spread across the Estrie, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec regions. Public health authorities urge pet owners to ensure their animals are not wandering unsupervised outdoors and advise against interacting with unfamiliar domestic or wild creatures, regardless of their appearance.

In the event of a bite, scratch, or contact with a potentially rabid animal’s saliva, individuals are advised to wash the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes and promptly call Info-Santé at 811 for immediate assistance. Swift administration of preventive treatment is crucial to ward off the disease.

Animals infected with rabies may display altered behavior, aggression, a proclivity to bite, isolation, reduced appetite, excessive drooling, or an unsteady walk. If a pet exhibits these signs, it should be isolated from other animals and humans and promptly examined by a veterinarian.

The Environment Ministry disclosed the first instance of raccoon rabies in the Centre-du-Québec region, specifically in Saint-Eugène-de-Grantham. Residents in the Eastern Townships, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec are urged to report dead, injured, disoriented, paralyzed, or abnormally aggressive raccoons, skunks, or foxes through an online form. Individuals outside these regions can report potentially rabid wildlife by contacting the Environment Ministry at 1 877 346-6763.