Confirmed cases of rabies in foxes and raccoons in parts of Southern Ontario shouldn't alarm residents living in the London, Chatham-Kent, and Windsor-Essex areas.
Beverly Stevenson, a science transfer specialist with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, says the closest confirmed case of rabies is about two hours north of Chatham-Kent.
"For the fox strain of rabies, we're up to nine cases -- most of those have been in Huron and Perth County and one was in Waterloo-Wellington area," she says. "For raccoon strain rabies we're up to 331 cases right now. The bulk of those are in the Hamilton area but they extend as far as Niagara."
Stevenson says although there is a possibility that an animal with rabies could make it's way from the affected areas, however, it's unlikely.
For those who will be travelling with pets this summer, there are some tips people can use.
Stevenson says make sure family pets are kept up-to-date with their vaccinations, keep children away from stray animals, and don't feed wildlife.
"If you have nuisance wildlife on your property let animal control officers deal with that," she says. "If you think you've been exposed to a rabid animal either contact your doctor, your local emergency department, or walk-in clinic."
Stevenson adds people should not trap wildlife for relocation or to keep them as pets.
For non-emergencies and information about rabies in wildlife, call Ontario’s Rabies Information Line at 1-888- 574-6656.
