What is rabies?

Rabies is a disease in animals caused by a virus that can spread to humans. Infection with the rabies virus leads to acute viral encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord).

If you are exposed to rabies, you need to get treatment right away. Once symptoms begin, the rabies virus is almost always fatal.

Rabies can infect any mammal, including humans, pets, wildlife and livestock. The most common carriers of the rabies virus in Ontario are:

• bats
• raccoons
• foxes
• skunks

Birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish do not get rabies.

How does rabies spread?

Rabies is a virus that can spread from an infected mammal to any other mammal, including humans, pets, livestock and wildlife. Rabies is spread through:

• bites that break the skin
• saliva entering an open wound
• saliva entering the mouth, nose or eyes
• direct contact with infected brain or nervous system tissue through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth

The virus enters the nerves in the open wound or the mucous membranes and travels to the brain.

Rabies cannot be transmitted through contact with the blood, urine or feces of an infected animal.

What are the signs and symptoms of rabies?

How long does it take for symptoms of rabies to develop?

• Animals: 2 weeks to many months
• Humans: 3-8 weeks (in some cases, as early as 9 days and as long as 7 years after exposure)

The length of time depends on a number of factors including:

• severity of the bite
• location of bite
• amount and the strain of the rabies virus

What should I do if I am bitten or scratched by an animal or had contact with wildlife?

• If possible, collect the contact information of the animal’s owner/custodian (name, address and phone number).
• Immediately wash any wound or mucous membranes with soap and water and remove any clothing that might be contaminated with saliva. Proper wound care after an animal bite can significantly reduce the risk of rabies.
• Immediately contact your healthcare provider. They will treat any wounds and determine the need for post-exposure rabies treatment in consultation with Halton Region Public Health.
• Notify your local Animal Control Services if necessary.
  • Burlington: Burlington Animal Shelter and Control (external link), 905-335-7777  
  • Halton Hills: Halton Hills Canine Services (external link), 905-877-6235  
  • Milton: Town of Milton Animal Services (external link), 905-878-7252   ext. 2105
  • Oakville: Oakville & Milton District Humane Society (external link), 905-845-1551  
• Call 311 to report the incident to Halton Region Public Health.

A public health inspector will then follow up with you to collect information, including:

• name and address of the pet owner, if applicable
• description of the animal
• information that will help to locate the animal

If you had contact with a bat, visit Bats & Rabies for more information.

How do I know if an animal had rabies when it bit or scratched me?

Animals infected with the rabies virus are only contagious for a short period of time before symptoms appear. Halton Region Public Health will take steps to determine if the animal had rabies when the bite, scratch or other exposure occurred.

Dogs, cats and ferrets are confined for a 10-day isolation period at a location approved by Halton Region Public Health. During this time, the animal is observed for signs or symptoms of rabies. Animals that are alive and healthy at the end of the 10-day period would not have transmitted rabies in their saliva at the time of the bite or scratch.

If the animal involved cannot be located and observed, you will be advised to consult with your healthcare provider about post-exposure rabies treatment.

Is there a vaccine to protect people against rabies?

Yes. There are 2 reasons for vaccination against rabies:

• Pre-exposure vaccine: Given to certain travellers or people who work in a job that may expose them to rabies (for example, veterinarians, laboratory workers handling the rabies virus, animal control).
• Post-exposure vaccine: The need for rabies treatment following a potential rabies exposure is determined by the healthcare provider, in consultation with Halton Region Public Health.

To learn more about the pre-exposure and post-exposure vaccines, please visit the Rabies Vaccine webpage.

What should I do if my pet had contact with wildlife?

If your pet has been in contact with wildlife, call your veterinarian immediately. For more information, visit Ontario's Rabies in pets webpage (external link).

How do I protect my family and pets from rabies?

• Make sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date. You are required by law to vaccinate all of your cats and dogs over the age of three months.
• Observe wildlife from a distance.
• Teach children to avoid unfamiliar cats and dogs.
• Don’t allow your pet to roam free; keep them indoors at night to prevent contact with wild animals.
• Report all animal bites, scratches and possible exposures to Halton Region Public Health.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about rabies pre-exposure vaccine if you work in a job that may expose you to rabies or plan to spend time in a country where rabies is common.

For more information, visit the Protecting Your Family and Pets Against Rabies webpage.

Have there been any confirmed cases of rabies in Halton Region?

Since January 2017: 9 Raccoons, 9 Skunks, and 17 Bats. View below for animals that tested positive for rabies in Halton region by municipality.

Animal rabies cases in Ontario are available on Ontario's Rabies cases webpage (external link). Human rabies is extremely rare in Canada due to effective public health prevention and control measures, and the availability of post-exposure rabies treatment. As of September 6, 2024, there has been one locally-acquired case of human rabies reported in Ontario. Previous to this, the last locally-acquired case of human rabies occurred in 1967.

What is the Province of Ontario doing to control rabies in wildlife?

The Province works to control rabies in terrestrial (non-bat) wildlife by:

• distributing baits for wildlife that contain rabies vaccine
• trapping and vaccinating wildlife in high-risk areas
• testing dead, sick or strange acting wildlife
• conducting research to improve rabies control program effectiveness

For more information, visit Wildlife rabies outbreaks and control operations (external link).