Clarington Digital Newspaper Collections

Canadian Statesman (Bowmanville, ON), 1 May 1993, p. 11

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The Canadian Statesman TVee&ttdvi, Bowmanville, Saturday, May 1,1993 11 Vaccination is Best Defence Against Rabies Virus Twenty-one people have died from rabies in Canada since 1925, the most recent of which was a man in Alberta in 1985. In Durham Region, a boy died in Port Perry in 1958 after being bitten by a skunk. Rabies is a viral disease of warm blooded animals that attacks the central central nervous system and with very rare exceptions always results in death. There is no treatment once clinical signs of disease appear in an infected animal. In Ontario at the present time, of the positive animals diagnosed, the approximate distribution between species is: Foxes 35%, Skunks 33%, Cattle 19%, Dogs and cats 7%, Other domestic animals 3%, Bats, coyotes, raccoons,, occasional rodents and . small wild animals 3%. Total 100%. There are between 1500 and 2500 cases of rabies diagnosed in animals in Canada every year, 85% of which are in Ontario. It is important to note that this represents a small percentage percentage of the wild animals that die from rabies and are never observed by people people or submitted for testing. The vaccines used for protecting domestic animals from rabies are' very effective. Commonly, most dogs, horses, and cats (with the exception exception of wild bam cats) receive regular individual veterinary care and vaccination. Rabid animals from these species are usually non- vaccinates. In fact, vaccinated animals animals almost never develop the disease. disease. There are several exceptions: 1) young animals that have only received one vaccine 2) older animals that have a weakened immune system 3) animals that have been vaccinated for the first time after exposure to a rabid animal 4) animals that are overdue overdue for a rabies booster vaccine/ More livestock owners are having large domestic animals vaccinated 1 against rabies in order to protect themselves and the irreplaceable genetic genetic pool that valuable animals represent. represent. This will reduce the number of cattle dying from rabies and also the number of people requiring r post exposure treatment. Rabies is almost always transmitted transmitted by a bite. In fact, the World Health Organization reports that only .1% of human rabies cases are attributed attributed to non-bite contact. Examples of non-bite contact are 1. Aerosal transmission transmission in bat caves, 2. Direct contact contact of saliva from a rabid animal with an open wound, break in the skin or eye. Most people that receive post exposure exposure rabies vaccination have in fact not been bitten or directly exposed to a rabid animal. These non-bile possible possible exposures to saliva often result in concerns. A medical doctor who has had experience with rabies should always always be consulted. The cost to the Ontario tax payer is approximately $1000.00 per person. Last year in Ontario 2,053 people received post exposure rabies vaccine. People can protect themselves from rabies by: 1. Regularly vaccinating vaccinating animals that arc under their care. 2. Avoiding contact with wild animals especially ones that appear 'friendly' or sick. 3. Avoiding contact contact with a pet that has fought with a wild animal for at least 2 hours (until saliva on hair coat had dried) unless gloves arc worn and the animal needs, emergency veterinary care. 5. Domestic Domestic pets should not be allowed to run free and unsupervised. People often unnecessarily expose themselves to saliva by searching through a pel's haircoat for wounds or petting an animal immediately after after a wild animal encounter. It should be noted that a pel's saliva will not have virus in it for at least 10 days and then only if it was going to become become clinically sick and die. Rabies in Durham Region is expected expected to increase dramatically in 1993 and 1994. The Ministry of Natural Natural Resources Unit estimates that only 1% of wild animal rabies cases, HELP KEEP RED CROSS READY! are being reported. If this estimate is correct, between 800 and 10,000 animals animals could die in Durham Region. As of April 26th, 1993, 25 animals animals in Durham have been diagnosed by Agriculture Canada to have rabies by the fluorescent antibody test. Foxes 14, Skunks 9, Cattle 2, Total Total 25. For the same period of time last year, there were only 5 diagnosed cases. -, ' The current hot spot is a relatively large area from the Town of Uxbridge Uxbridge south to the village of Greenwood Greenwood at Hwy.7 and from the York/ Durham town line near Stouffville in the west to Hwy. 12 in the east. This includes parts of the townships of Uxbridge, Scugog, Pickering and Whitby. Residents of this area should remain especially vigilant. Isolated rabies cases in Brock Twsp., City of Oshawa (north), and Town of Newcastle Newcastle (north) could expand. Rabid animals can travel long distances and therefore no area is immune. All suspected rabies cases should be reported to Agriculture Canada in Bowmanville at 416-623-5759. Diagnostic Diagnostic specimens are picked up and tested by trained professionals. Private Private veterinarians and Animal Control Control may also provide intermediate assistance. assistance. HOME MECHANICS... BE A PART OF FIXING SOMETHING BIG!! For years Home Mechanics have been saving money, now they can SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT too! Hazardous Household Wastes such as Oil, Oil Filters, Antifreeze, Brake Fluid, Batteries and Mixed or Contaminated Fuels require safe handling and disposal. Wastes such as these contain toxic ingredients which can harm our land and water resources. These types of wastes must be taken to a Hazardous Household Waste Depot for proper disposal. In Durham Region two Hazardous Household Depots have been set up to accept these wastes: Oshawa Ritson Road Transfer and Recycling Site Hazardous Household Waste Depot (416) 433-2996 1640 Ritson Rd. North, north of Taunton Rd., in Oshawa Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. to noon Metro's Brock West Landfill Site Hazardous Household Waste Depot (416) 686-1294 Cone. #3, west of Brock Rd., in Pickering Hours of Operation: Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m: Most of the materials listed in this notice, including materials such as Tires and Scrap Metal, can be Recycled through Regional Programs once they are delivered to the appropriate site, but, we encourage residents to reduce the sharing them with a friend or neighbour. s $ Be DURHAM REGION :DURHAM:

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