RABIES REMINDER: HELP PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, PETS, AND LIVESTOCK

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is reminding community members to remain vigilant as reports of rabies continue to occur in the surrounding region.

This reminder comes following a previously confirmed case of rabies in the southern portion of Akwesasne and the recent confirmation of a rabid raccoon approximately 20 kilometres from Cornwall, Québec. These incidents highlight that rabies remains present in the region and reinforce the importance of taking precautions to protect yourself, your family, your pets, and your livestock.

Rabies is a contagious and fatal disease that affects all mammals and can be transmitted from infected animals to humans through bites, scratches, or contact with saliva. While raccoon rabies is a concern, other variants of the virus are also found in wildlife such as bats, foxes, and skunks. For this reason, caution should always be exercised around all wild and unfamiliar domestic animals.

Community members are encouraged to help reduce the risk of rabies by following these safety tips:

• Keep pets and livestock up to date on their rabies vaccinations, including indoor cats
• Supervise pets while they are outdoors and feed them indoors whenever possible.
• Never approach or handle unknown wild or domestic animals, even if they appear friendly or injured.
• Never touch an animal carcass with your bare hands.
• Wash any bite or scratch immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have been exposed to a potentially rabid animal.
• Reduce wildlife attractants by securing garbage, compost, birdseed, and pet food.
• Do not relocate nuisance wildlife or animals that appear to be orphaned, as relocating animals can spread diseases such as rabies to new areas.

By remaining aware and taking simple precautions, we can help protect our families, our pets, our livestock, and our community.

If you have had an encounter with an animal suspected of having rabies or have concerns about a potentially rabid animal in the community, please contact the MCA Compliance Program at 613-330-9681.