General Notice of Rabies Research and Control Operations for 2019

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry role is to manage and research rabies in wildlife and we focus on two means of controlling rabies: distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits and trap-vaccinate-release.

Aerial baiting consists of dropping specially prepared rabies vaccine baits from airplanes or helicopters over large areas where terrestrial (non-bat) rabies is present. Vaccine baits may also be distributed by hand in urban areas where terrestrial rabies is present. Vaccine baits are distributed in areas where terrestrial rabies is present and in an approximately 50 km buffer surrounding all positive cases.

There are two strains of terrestrial rabies that pose a threat to Ontario: Arctic strain rabies (which occurs mostly in foxes and skunks in southwestern and far northern Ontario) and raccoon strain rabies (which occurs mostly in raccoons and skunks and is present along the border areas in New York State and southern Ontario). Both strains can occur in any species of mammal.

The trap-vaccinate-release program is used to immunize wildlife in high risk areas, to help prevent the disease from spreading or becoming established in Ontario.

Planned Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry activities for the 2019 season include:

• Localized aerial baiting in the Huron Perth and Waterloo Counties to prevent the spread of Arctic strain rabies that is present in the area: April – November as required
• Hand baiting in urban areas within 50 km of positive raccoon strain rabies cases found in the Hamilton-Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant-Niagara-Waterloo areas: July - October
• Aerial baiting and hand baiting in the St. Lawrence area (on islands and/or a small area of mainland) to prevent the spread of raccoon strain rabies from New York: 1-2 days in mid-August
• Large-scale aerial baiting in the Golden Horseshoe area, within 50 km of any positive cases to prevent the further spread of raccoon strain rabies in that area: 1-2 weeks in late-August
• Large scale aerial baiting in southwestern Ontario to control Arctic fox strain rabies: mid-September
• Enhanced surveillance (testing sick wildlife) within 50 km of known Arctic fox or raccoon strain rabies cases: throughout the year
• Post-oral rabies vaccine live-trapping/release of raccoons and skunks in the Golden Horseshoe area to assess effectiveness of oral rabies vaccine baiting: 3 - 4 weeks in October
• Trap-vaccinate-release of raccoons and skunks in focused strategic areas in the Hamilton and Burlington areas and in some rapid response cases, to prevent further spread of rabies.

We may also distribute baits outside of the planned baiting season in targeted areas to control the possibility of an outbreak should the need arise.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is a leading agency in research of this deadly disease. Our studies of wildlife movement and genetics and vaccine and bait development help ensure that Ontario’s rabies research and control program is based on the best science available.

It is necessary to continue rabies control programs and enhanced surveillance even when the number of rabies cases is low so that healthy wildlife populations do not become infected by the remaining rabid animals or from rabid animals that enter Ontario across our borders. The province remains attentive to ensure any new outbreaks are detected early and responded to effectively.

Questions on rabies control programs may be directed to the contact person listed in this notice until September 30, 2019.

Other information

Through public meetings and consultation with health experts, municipal and regional officials, wildlife rehabilitators and other stakeholders, every regional health unit in the province developed a contingency plan, which is updated annually, for this deadly virus.