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Rabies Research and Development Unit WebsiteThe purpose of the site is to provide information on MNR's efforts to control and eradicate rabies from Ontario. The site includes background information on the disease, several fact sheets and links to other rabies related websites, such as your regional health unit .
What's NewTo protect the people of Ontario against rabies, the province has started planning its annual wildlife rabies control operations for 2006. The Ministry of Natural Resources is committed to the research, control and eradication of rabies in Ontario, thereby protecting the health and safety of the public, their pets and the wildlife of this province. Ontario's programs are so successful that broad areas of southern Ontario are free of fox and raccoon rabies. If a person is exposed to rabies and does not receive treatment before they show symptoms, the disease is fatal. The province uses a number of control measures in the fight against the deadly rabies virus:
Cases of fox-strain rabies have dropped dramatically across Ontario to only 34 cases in 2005, down from 1,500 before control measures were implemented in 1989, a 97 per cent drop. There was only 1 confirmed raccoon rabies case in 2005, less than last year and down from 45 cases in 2001. In jurisdictions such as neighbouring New York State, which did not have proactive, multi-partner programs, the number of raccoon rabies cases had climbed to more than 8000 in the initial six-year period. Ontario's MNR-led program is so effective that, in the first six years, only 132 (as of December 31, 2005) cases of raccoon rabies have been confirmed. Much of Ontario's success in controlling the spread of raccoon rabies is attributable to the introduction of a high-risk area (HRA) in eastern Ontario. The HRA was established in 2000 and expanded in 2002 to help control the spread of raccoon rabies. Efforts have been so successful that the boundaries of the HRA were changed July 1, 2005 resulting in a 65% size reduction of the HRA. As of January 1, 2006, adult animals and juvenile rabies vectors (fox, raccoon, and skunks) within the HRA can be released up to 1 km from the point of capture. All other juvenile animals can be released up to 15km from the point of capture. In order for any rabies vector species to be rehabilitated in Ontario, the rehabilitator must successfully complete special training first. Please view this map to see if you are in the Raccoon Rabies High-Risk Area or contact your MNR District Office for further information. The rabies control program is a joint effort that receives important input from a variety of partners across Ontario. Regional health units, municipalities, wildlife rehabilitators, licensed trappers, wildlife control agents and aboriginal communities are all key to the continued success of Ontario's world-renowned rabies control program. Click on the following links for some helpful information on rabies in your area: |
