The co-owner of the fauna refuge in Estrie, Claudie Daniel, fears that citizens will take the initiative to treat the wounded or sick wanders themselves that they meet in the forest, for lack of being able to transport them to a place where they will be treated.
From Wednesday and until August 17, Quebec forbidden to move rares washer, striped mixes, gray foxes, red foxes as well as the coyotes which are in 106 municipalities of Estrie and Montérégie.
The Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks wants to prevent the rage from raccoon, a 100 %transmitted and deadly disease, will spread outside its two regions, where an epidemic is raging.
32 Ratons infected was detected since December in the Lac Champlain Valley, in Frelighsburg, Farnham and Venice-en-Québec. This is a second resurgence of cases in Quebec since the 2006 epidemic, when the virus had been detected for the first time in the province.
What worries us is that people who cannot find a refuge themselves make bottles and care for raccoils, without necessarily being aware of the risk of transmission
underlines Claudie Daniel.
Claude Daniel is a co -owner of the Estrie fauna refuge.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Samuel Montigny
A healthy appearance raccoon can have the virus and transmit disease to humans. In some cases, symptoms take weeks or even months to manifest.
At the fauna refuge in Estrie, in Sherbrooke, the prevention measures were revised upwards in an epidemic context. Volunteers put on gloves and disinfect their equipment.
All the new rats was isolated, are treated only by experienced volunteers to avoid bites.
In any case, families who visit the refuge are in contact with the raccoons, says Claudie Daniel. They are arranged in enclosures far from the public.
Common practice
Citizens who move living animals in the two regions concerned are fine.
This is something that is worrying at the moment, the displacement of animals. We went into prohibition mode to be able to quit if people do it
explains the coordinator of the management of rabies at the Ministry of the Environment, the fight against climate change, fauna and parks, Marianne Gagnier.
We know that there are, our people on the ground see, notes the biologist. It is easy to see people on social networks who move animals for various reasons, for good or less good reasons.
It is a practice that is done and there is a very very important risk at the moment to move animals in incubation of the disease.
The owners of shelters must also comply with the regulations, which Claudie Daniel deplores. The fauna refuge in Estrie, which vaccinates the raccoils entrusted to it, will no longer be able to contribute to the efforts to immunize the government for animals which are in Frelighsburg, Farnham, Potton, Bromont and in other cities struck by the prohibition.
A vast operation to distribute vaccine rabies was carried out in April.
Quebec expects an epidemic similar to that of 2006, where 104 cases had been detected in 4 years.
Measures to be taken
To prevent an infection, the authorities ask citizens to stay far from the raccoons and take measures to prevent the arrival of these animals on their land, avoiding for example feeding them or storing their trash cans out of their reach.
In the event of a bite, scratch or contact with saliva, the wound must be cleaned with water and soap for 10 to 15 minutes and a call to Info-Santé 811 must be housed.
It is important to act quickly, according to Dr Benoît Heppel, family doctor at the university health and social services (CIUSSS) center in Estrie-Chus.
Doctor Benoît Heppell, family doctor at the university and social services (CIUSSS) Center in Estrie-Chus. (Archives photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Guylaine Charette
It is a fatal disease in 100 % of cases. On the other hand, before, we are able to locate the infection […] and prevent the development of the disease. But you have to do something. You can’t say, “I’m going to wait to see I have it and if the symptoms appear, I will do something”. It will be too late.
