Forestry and Agrifoods Agency
Health and Community Services
March 13, 2015

Public Advisory: Five Rabies Cases Confirmed in Labrador

The Forestry and Agrifoods Agency has confirmed diagnosis of rabies in animals killed recently near Labrador City, Voisey�s Bay and Hopedale.

In the Labrador City area, a wolf, a red fox and a dog have been confirmed as having the disease. A red fox found near Voisey�s Bay, and a second red fox found inland from Hopedale, also tested positive. The animals were tested between January 25 and March 2. The agency is investigating two additional possible cases in the Hebron area.

Samples from the positive animals were sent to Canadian Food Inspection Agency laboratories in Ottawa for confirmation of the diagnosis. These are the first cases of rabies reported in Labrador since a single case in Nain in July 2014. The last incident in Labrador West was in 2012. Rabies is seen in Labrador in cycles of uncertain length.

Abundant sea ice creates the potential for infected animals to cross from Labrador onto the island of Newfoundland. Residents are encouraged to be vigilant and take precautions when encountering animals acting in a strange or aggressive manner.

Officials with the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency and the Department of Health and Community Services continue to monitor the situation and encourage residents to take the following precautions:

Keep domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, under control;

Vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies;

Avoid wild animals particularly foxes and wolves;

Report any sightings of strange-acting wild or domestic animals to conservation officers, wildlife enforcement officers, veterinarians, police or public health officials;

Wash any bites or other areas of contact with potentially rabid animals immediately with soap and water;

Immediately go to your health clinic or emergency department for treatment of any animal bites. Any significant contact with potentially rabid animals should be reported to public health officials.

In addition to monitoring and reporting on cases of rabies in this province, the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency has invested in research into the movement patterns of rabies in northeastern Canada in cooperation with Memorial University, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the University of Montreal.

For more information about rabies please visit: www.nr.gov.nl.ca/nr/agrifoods/animal/animal_health/rabies.html

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Media contact:

Roger Scaplen Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 697-5267 rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca

John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2015 03 13                              1:25 p.m.