Public health promoting rabies prevention strategies ahead of World Rabies Day

Sept. 28 is World Rabies Day, an opportunity to raise community awareness about rabies and how people can protect themselves and their loved ones from the viral disease.

The World Health Organization has established “Act Now: You, Me, Communities” as the theme for World Rabies Day 2025. The theme highlights that everyone has a role to play in rabies prevention and, ultimately, achieving the goal of eliminating the virus worldwide.

Grey Bruce Public Health is taking this occasion to remind residents of steps that can be taken at the individual level to reduce the risk of rabies.

“Although human cases of rabies are very rare in Canada, we know the virus continues to circulate, with bats being the most common carrier in southern Ontario,” says senior public health manager Andrew Barton. “Because of this, it’s important for Grey-Bruce residents to remain vigilant about potential rabies risks and ways to prevent the virus’s spread.”

Rabies is usually transmitted to humans through the saliva of an infected animal, which can occur via a bite or scratch. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in humans.

In Grey-Bruce, with the exception of bats, there has been no evidence of rabies in wild or domestic animals in the past 10 years.

Although most bats are not rabid, some do carry the disease. Public health advises people to bat-proof their homes and cottages over the winter, especially if bats have been found inside in the past.

“By sealing gaps and ensuring vents and other openings are screened, you will significantly reduce the chance that you will come into contact with a bat,” says Barton.

Foxes, skunks, and raccoons are also more common carriers of rabies.

To prevent the risk of contracting rabies from wildlife, residents are urged to:
 

• Never pet, feed, or handle wild animals
• Teach children to stay away from wild or stray animals
• Never touch dead or sick animals
• Never keep wild animals as pets

To keep the risk of rabies low in Canada, pet owners are reminded that they have a responsibility to vaccinate their dogs, cats, ferrets, and horses. Pet owners are also urged to not allow their pets to roam freely. If their pet bites or scratches someone, pet owners are asked to share their information with the victim.

Public health investigates potential animal exposures to assess the risk and rule out the risk of rabies. Normally, this is achieved using a 10-day confinement period for dogs and cats involved in a bite or scratch incident. Other confinement periods for different animals, such as some farm animals, are occasionally needed.

Other management methods are also available, such as testing animals that have died following an exposure. When required, rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is available to ensure the victim is protected from the virus.
 
If a person is bitten or scratched by an animal, public health advises that person to immediately clean and flush the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and then seek assessment and management from a health-care provider. Health-care providers must contact public health to investigate potential rabies exposures.