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Rabies in Canada

September 15, 2025

Canadians sometimes think of Rabies as a “disease of the past." Globally, however, it still kills almost 60,000 people per year. Rabies is almost always fatal; in all of history less than 20 people are reported to have survived a clinical rabies infection.

Rabies affects the central nervous system of humans and other mammals. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, or if saliva, blood, or other fluids from an infected animal directly enter the eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound.

Rabies in animals is a reportable disease in Canada, meaning veterinarians are obligated to report cases to the government. The number of reported rabies-positive animals in this country has declined since 2000; however, there are still several thousand confirmed cases each year.

Rabies in humans is very rare in Canada due to effective prevention and control programs. There have been 28 human deaths due to rabies in the country since 1924. This low rate of rabies is due to widespread, ongoing vaccination programs, and failure to continue these programs can and will result in a return of disease.

All recent human cases in Canada have been linked to exposure to bats. Bats are the most common carriers of rabies in Canada; an estimated one to four per cent of bats in Canada may be infected.

Rabies is also found in other wildlife in some regions:

  • Skunks in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario
  • Raccoons in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick
  • Foxes (arctic and red) in Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and northern parts of Quebec, Manitoba, and Labrador
  • Wolves, coyotes, and bears can carry rabies but are not endemic carriers in Canada
  • Small rodents (rats, mice, squirrels) are rarely rabid

Signs of Rabies

Rabid animals often exhibit changes in behavior. Wild animals might lose their fear of humans and appear unusually friendly, or nocturnal animals may come out during the day. Other signs include not eating, avoiding water, an unsteady gait, paralysis, excessive drooling, and a hanging tongue. Rabies often manifests as paralysis in bats, leading them to be found on the ground. An infected animal will likely die within a week once clinical signs of illness are present.

In humans, rabies symptoms typically appear 20 to 60 days after exposure but can range from days to years. Initial symptoms may be flu-like (fever, headache, weakness) or there may be discomfort/pain at the bite site. As the disease progresses, increased difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, muscle spasms, anxiety, irritability, confusion, seizures, abnormal behaviour, and fear of water (hydrophobia) can occur. As previously mentioned, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

Prevention

All dogs, cats, horses, and ferrets should be vaccinated against rabies. Livestock that frequently interact with humans should also be vaccinated. Pre-exposure vaccinations are available for individuals at high risk (e.g., veterinarians, animal control officers, laboratory workers, hunters, travellers to high-risk areas).

The Canadian government regularly undertakes wildlife vaccination programs to help immunize wild animals against rabies.

To help prevent rabies:

  • Do not allow pets to roam freely (spaying/neutering can reduce roaming behaviour).
  • Never approach or handle unknown animals, even if they appear friendly or injured.
  • Report wild animals showing strange behaviour to local animal control or authorities who can help sick animals.
  • Wildlife-proof your home and yard by securing garbage containers and sealing entry points to exclude bats.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal:

  • Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
  • Apply rubbing alcohol or iodine if available.
  • Seek immediate medical attention.
  • Contact your physician or local public health unit right away, even if the exposure seems minor or if the animal's rabies status is uncertain. Prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), including a vaccine series and immune globulin, can prevent the disease if administered before symptoms appear.
  • Report the incident to your local health department or public health authority.

If possible, the biting animal may be tested for rabies which requires euthanasia and brain material testing. There is no test for rabies that can be reliably performed on live animals.

Consult your veterinarian immediately if your pet is bitten by another animal. They will assess the situation and your pet's vaccination status. Depending on vaccination status, pets may be placed under observation or quarantine. Post exposure vaccination can help reduce quarantine requirements.  Contact your appropriate provincial authority if bitten by a stray or wild animal. Identifying or safely capturing the biting animal can help determine if your pet was exposed but always prioritize your own safety.

Matthew Kornya, BSc, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM (SAIM), Resident ACVECC
Consulting Editor                                                                                                                   
August 2025