Wolf killed in Nain tested positive for rabies

Kevin Aylward, minister responsible for wildlife, today announced that the wolf killed in Nain last week has tested positive for rabies.

"On November 5 and 6 a wolf strayed into Nain and was eventually shot. This wolf was confirmed to have had rabies. Whether this marks the beginning of a larger scale outbreak or not is yet to be seen. Wolves have been known in the past to be a singular case of rabies with no others occurring at the same time, however the normal safety measures should be taken," Minister Aylward said.

Residents and municipal and medical officials in Labrador are advised to anticipate this outbreak and to act accordingly.

This includes:

1. Keeping domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, under control (tied up at home, walked on a leash, municipal control of strays);

2. Vaccinating pets against rabies;

3. Avoiding wild animals, particularly foxes and wolves, that are acting strange;

4. Reporting to officials (conservation officers, veterinarians, police, public health officials) any sightings of strange acting wild or domestic animals;

5. Reporting immediately to public health officials any bites or other significant contact with potentially rabid animals.

Due to the importance of rabies, it is considered a "Named Disease" under the federal Health of Animals Act. As such all suspect cases must be reported.

Rabies is a disease of wild animals, predominantly foxes, that occurs on a cyclic basis in Labrador. Once in recent memory (1988) it also came onto the island of Newfoundland by way of ice floes from further north.

As it commonly occurs on a four year cycle, following the natural cycles in the density of the fox population, and as we had outbreaks in the years 1988, 1992 and 1996, it was considered that an outbreak might have occurred in early 2000. This did not materialize. Population numbers of foxes in Labrador at the present time are very high and prey levels are very low which provide ideal conditions for the spread of the disease throughout that region and close to populated areas. It is now considered that an outbreak may occur in late 2000 or early 2001.

Individuals wishing more information on this disease can check our departmental Web site (Rabies menu page: www.gov.nl.ca//www.gov.nl.ca/agric/her&rab/rabiesfront.htm or contact the following:

Dr. Hugh Whitney
Provincial Veterinarian
Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods
Box 7400
St. John�s, NF
A1E 3Y5
(709) 729-6879 phone
(709) 729-0055 fax

Media contact: Cynthia Layden Barron, (709) 729 6183, fax: (709) 729 2076.

2000 11 17 5:05 p.m.