Four new rabies cases found in Halton

Halton Region says raccoon-strain rabies has been found in three raccoons and one skunk in Burlington, bringing the total number of confirmed infected animals to 18.

The Halton Region Health Department says 11 raccoons and seven skunks have tested positive for rabies and is advising residents to avoid contact with the animals — as well as other wild animals. The first positive animal in Burlington was found last October.

In June, eight animals — five skunks and three raccoons — were found to have rabies in Hamilton, according to the city’s website. The animals were found in various locations, including Ancaster, Dundas and on the east, central and west Mountain.

So far in July, two raccoons have been confirmed to have the disease in Hamilton.

In an effort to control the outbreak, which was first detected in December 2015, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry will be dropping more than 750,000 vaccine baits in the Hamilton area this summer.

The first roughly 250,000 baits were scheduled to be distributed by hand this month and another 500,000 are to be dropped by helicopter in August.

Rabies is a viral disease spread through the saliva of an infected animal, often through a scratch or bite.