Rabies Is Real

An Innovative Approach

October 2017

DEC 2015 EVERYTHING CHANGED…

December 4, 2015 Hamilton received a CFIA report of raccoon strain

rabies in a raccoon that attacked two dogs.

First report of raccoon rabies strain EVER in Southern Ontario!!

Map

http://spatialsolutions.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webapp

viewer/index.html?id=d85201f1b35b40c4b2f02da027

8625a2

Current Picture

171 91 1 1

TOTAL : 265

Note: A skunk was confirmed to have bat strain rabies which is not included in

the above total

Totals as of Sept 18, 2017

Raccoon Rabies Response Program

Once the numbers of positive animals started to grow

significantly and Hamilton was becoming high risk we

realized not only was the workload increasing but a full

community wide awareness campaign was needed. An

application was submitted to the Ministry of Health and

Long term Care in 2016 and supported by our BOH in the

event funding was not obtained. We were successful and

received one time funding to support two temporary full

time staff members as well as money for promotion,

educational materials, a low cost rabies clinic and a new

public awareness campaign

What We Did Different

New Awareness Campaign

Innovative Resources to Support Awareness Campaign

New Approach to Low Cost Vaccine Options

Enhanced Our Rabies Risk Assessments and

Procedures

New Awareness Campaign

Needed

Goals

Grab attention

Prevent exposures before they happen

Internal Documents

New Rabies Campaign

Rabies is Real Campaign

Bus SheltersLime Ridge Mall

Rabies is Real Campaign

Arena Boards

Billboards

Rabies is Real Campaign

Animal Services Vehicle Wrap

New Approach With Vets

� Many unsuccessful attempts in the past to get our local vet community on board with low cost options

� This time we focused more on a one to one approach where I met with individual vets to discuss the rabies risk in Hamilton and options for vulnerable residents

� This opportunity built a stronger relationship with individual vet clinics, provided resources and information they were looking for and was successful in achieving vet participation in various low cost options – has also increased bite reports from vet clinics

Established Low Cost Vaccine Options

Three options available now to low income residents

1) External rabies clinics – City of Hamilton vaccinated 363

pets in our first outdoor clinic – We have held 3 in total

2) Internal rabies clinics – one local vet offers low cost

vaccines any day of week with proof of income

3) Public Health Voucher Program - 14 clinics accept a

voucher ($25) for animals involved in bite report, not up

to date and owner under financial hardship

Raccoon Rabies

Surveillance Form

Follow up with all MNRF

positive cases to ensure no

contact with humans/domestic

animals as well as the Animal

Services officer involved

Improved Surveillance &

Investigation

Risk Assessment & Investigation Enhancements

Important points learned:

� Lack of wounds noted on many positive animals

� Large portion of wildlife also positive for distemp er

� Some of the positive wildlife “appeared healthy”

� Remember to take photos of stray cats before sent f or testing and carefully word any media releases when dealing with positive cases

� Most common symptoms were – not eating or drinking, difficulty walking and vocalization

� Clearly explaining exposures to residents - trapper s with nerve exposure, direct contact with saliva on hands

� How quickly symptoms can present

Risk Assessment & Investigation of

Rabid Cat

Innovative Resources Created

We wanted to make sure our awareness campaign was

successful in all areas.

Activities included presentations, electronic and hard copy

resources and promotion of awareness through various high

risk groups and media outlets.

Improved Out Reach

General Public/Children

Including: Post Secondary Education

Pet Owners

This includes community cat caregivers – It is estimated that Hamilton has

approximately 300,000 unowned community or feral cats within the city.

High risk Occupations

Animal Services in the surveillance process with MNRF,

Wildlife rehabilitation groups, nuissance wildlife companies and local trappers.

Pet stores, groomers and kennels

Local farmers

Medical Practitioners

Due to the correlation between increased Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in

areas of high risk area for rabies the medical professionals were also a target

group – improved PEP fact sheet and created a video for administering PEP

Transport Truck Drivers – due to risk of translocation of wildlife

Activity Books

Door Hangers & Magnets

Resources used by Animal Services as well as

Public Health

Rabies — Who To Call

Potential Human ExposureHamilton Public Health

(905) 546 2489

Rabies Surveillance and BaitingMinistry of Natural Resources and Forestry

1 (888) 574 6656

Sick, Dead or Injured WildlifeAnimal Services

(905) 574 3433

City of Hamilton Public Heath and Animal Services

* For animal to animal exposure contact your vet

Translocation Resource

Videos

Educational videos

1) Short Rabies Video - To be used for various

social media outlets, Cineplex pre-show

and our website.

2) Animated Rabies Video – To be used in schools, vet clinics, presentations and other health units

3) PEP video – shows step by step how to administer PEP – a link will be provided with every vaccine delivered –intended for medical professionals : https://youtu.be/5GqdDz7WQKs

Questions?