Durham health department says animal bites, scratches involving humans must be reported

Durham Region Health Department is reminding residents and frontline professionals that all animal bites and scratches involving humans must be reported to the health department, as part of a Rabies Awareness Month notice dated May 1.

The department says rabies can be transmitted through the bite, scratch or saliva of an infected animal, and that it is “almost always fatal” for humans and most animals once symptoms appear.

In its notice, the health department said rabies is most commonly found in bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons. It said people should avoid contact with wild animals, particularly those species.

For schools and child care centres, the department advised staff to remind children not to approach wild animals on school or child care property. It also said children should tell an adult right away if they encounter a sick or injured animal.

If a sick or injured animal is found, the health department said people should avoid direct contact and safely contain the animal if possible. It said the health department must be contacted right away to assess any potential risk of exposure.

The notice also advises residents to follow posted rules in conservation areas, parks and other outdoor spaces, and to avoid feeding wildlife.

The health department’s recommended precautions include keeping children and pets away from wild animals; keeping pets indoors at night or supervising them outside; and avoiding contact with dead or sick wildlife.

The department said dogs and cats, especially stray animals, can transmit rabies to humans if they become infected after exposure to a rabid animal.

Ontario Regulation 567/90 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act requires up-to-date rabies immunization for dogs, cats and ferrets over three months old.

“A key component of rabies prevention and control is responsible pet ownership which includes maintaining up-to-date immunization against rabies for all dogs and cats and ferrets over three-months old. This is required under Ontario Regulation 567/90 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act,” Brenda Kwan, the department’s manager of health protection, said in the notice.

The region posts rabies vaccination clinic dates at durham.ca/Rabies, according to the notice.