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A Cluster of Rabid Skunks in Vancouver

A Cluster of Rabid Skunks in Vancouver. Patricia Daly MD, FRCPC Vancouver Coastal Health. Outline. Describe a cluster of rabid skunks in Vancouver Outline the public health response Discussion. Rabies in BC. Rabies in enzootic only in bats in BC 4-10% of bats tested annually have rabies

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A Cluster of Rabid Skunks in Vancouver

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  1. A Cluster of Rabid Skunks in Vancouver Patricia Daly MD, FRCPC Vancouver Coastal Health

  2. Outline • Describe a cluster of rabid skunks in Vancouver • Outline the public health response • Discussion

  3. Rabies in BC • Rabies in enzootic only in bats in BC • 4-10% of bats tested annually have rabies • Testing after human exposure • Estimated prevalence 1% in the wild • Other rabid animals in BC very rare: • 3 cats 1992/93 • 1 horse decades ago

  4. Report of Rabid Skunk • May 25, 2004: • Report from CFIA of skunk submitted from Stanley Park on May 13 – rabies positive, strain not yet known • Found “catatonic” – euthanized by wildlife services, sent for testing • Report of skunk in similar state April 9, 2004 - not sent for testing

  5. Initial Response • Press release May 25: • Members of the public or their pets with contact with either skunk to come forward • Advise pets to remain on leash in the park • Avoid contact with wildlife in the Park, report dead or sick animals

  6. Meeting with Stanley Park Wildlife Services • 2 ill skunks found in same area of the Park (Lost Lagoon), both young • 10-15 dead animals per week found, 1-4 sent for necrospy/rabies testing • Wildlife staff not vaccinated against rabies

  7. What Strain of Rabies? • May 28, 2004: Bat-variant strain • Assumption: Skunk had bat contact • Questions: • Could the skunk be infectious? • Can bat-variant rabies circulate among skunks?

  8. Outbreak of Bat-Variant Rabies Among Skunks in Flagstaff, Arizona • 19 rabid skunks Jan-July 2001, throughout Flagstaff • Variant: Western E. fuscus bats • Remarkably homologous genetically • Virus found in salivary glands • Conclusion: Skunk-to-skunk transmission

  9. Public Health Action • Second positive skunk reported June 9, same area of Stanley Park • Press release • Change in RPEP policy: • RPEP for any bat, skunk or raccoon bite in Stanley Park until further notice • Outside of Stanley Park: RPEP only routinely given for bat exposures

  10. Public Health Action • Discussion with CFIA, Stanley Park Wildlife Services • More active testing skunks/raccoons in Stanley Park • Piloting of traps for skunks • Trigger point for further action: 5 or more rabid skunks in the Park

  11. Further Action • Vaccinating of wildlife services, CFIA staff • SPCA program to provide free vaccine to pets of the homeless • Many reports of raccoon bites followed up

  12. Further Developments…. • 2 more rabid skunks found in the Park for a total of 4 • Date range: May 13-June 19, 2004 • All young (<1 year old skunks) • All in Lost Lagoon area • All bat-variant rabies

  13. Stanley Park Tests June-Sept/04 • 24 skunks – 4 positive • 7 skunks outside the Park – all negative • 9 raccoons – all negative • 1 bat – negative • 9 bats outside the Park – 1 positive • 2 squirrels – negative

  14. Summary • 4 skunks infected with bat-variant rabies found in Stanley Park May-June 2004 • Common bat exposure? • Transmission among skunks?

  15. Lessons Learned • Public Health Recommendations: • Routine rabies vaccination for wildlife workers • Routine pet vaccination • Avoid contact with wildlife • Surveillance for rabies in wildlife?

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