Cat with rabies prompts 3 people to receive emergency treatment in Montreal area
Three people in Quebec's Montérégie region are receiving preventative rabies treatment after exposure to a stray cat infected with the virus. Health officials are emphasizing the importance of immediate medical attention following contact with suspicious animals as raccoon rabies cases rise in the province.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the public health risks posed by the spread of wildlife-borne diseases to domestic animals and humans.
Three people near Montreal have received an emergency preventative treatment after being exposed to a stray cat with rabies , the regional health department said.
A spokesperson for the Montérégie Public Health Department confirmed to Global News in an email that three people have received what is known as post-exposure prophylaxis, which includes a multi-dose vaccine series.
The Quebec government confirmed Wednesday that it had identified the first confirmed case of raccoon rabies in a cat in Godmanchester, in Quebec’s Montérégie region.
“This demonstrates that the disease, which is already spreading among wildlife in certain regions of Québec, can also be transmitted to domestic animals,” the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said in a news release.
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