Photo: Bats / Source: Saskatchewan Government Website
By: Carol Baldwin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wakaw Recorder
On September 2, the RM of Duck Lake shared that, reporting from a Saskatchewan Agriculture Rabies Risk Assessment veterinarian confirmed that a rabid bat was found in the RM of Duck Lake No. 463.
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of mammals. Across Canada, rabies is most often found in bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons, while in Saskatchewan, rabies is most often found in skunks and, to a lesser extent, bats. It may infect domestic animals through direct contact with a rabid animal and can also affect humans. Most instances of rabies prove to be fatal unless proper steps are taken.
Rabies poses a serious risk to human health as it is a fatal disease. There is no treatment for rabies once clinical signs appear, but it can be prevented through vaccinating susceptible animals and preventing human exposure to potentially infected animals. If a person was bitten or scratched by a bat (or if you cannot rule out this possibility), call the Saskatchewan rabies hotline at 1-844-7-RABIES (1-844-772-2437) or Health Link (811) for assessment. Clinical rabies can be prevented through urgent assessment, proper wound management and, if indicated, post-exposure vaccination.
There are four different strains of rabies in Canada differentiated by their carrier species. All strains are equally capable of causing rabies in other animals. The four strains include: Arctic fox rabies, skunk rabies, raccoon rabies, and bat rabies.
Animals infected by any variant of the rabies virus may show a variety of clinical signs. The disease can appear in 2 forms:
‘Dumb’ rabies
Domestic animals may become depressed and try to hide in isolated places
Wild animals may lose their fear of humans and appear unusually friendly
Wild animals that usually only come out at night may be out during the day
Animals may exhibit paralysis of the limbs, neck or face (causing abnormal facial expressions or drooling)
‘Furious’ rabies
Animals may become very excited and aggressive
Periods of excitement usually alternate with periods of depression
Animals may attack objects or other animals
They may even bite or chew their own limbs
Rabies is spread when an animal or human is bitten or scratched by an infected animal. Exposure to rabies is classified into three different categories:
Category I – touching or feeding animals, licks on the skin;
Category II – nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding, licks on broken skin; and
Category III – single or multiple bites or scratches that break the skin, contamination of mucous membrane (i.e. mouth, eyes, nose) with saliva from licks; any bat bites or scratches.
Anyone with Category II or III exposure to an animal suspected of carrying rabies should immediately wash the area with soap and warm water and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Experimental studies have shown that some animals can shed the virus in saliva up to 2 weeks before clinical signs of sickness appear. This means the infected animal can spread the disease even before it starts to look sick. The incubation period for rabies can range anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months, but in some cases it can be even longer. This variability depends on many factors, including the location of the bite and the amount of virus that entered the wound.
To protect human health and that of domestic animals in Saskatchewan, a rabies response program has been established. Private veterinarians collect samples from suspected rabid animals for testing, with results shared with the Rabies Risk Assessment Veterinarian (RRAV). In case of a positive result, the RRAV will coordinate necessary follow-up actions.
To report a wild animal suspected of carrying rabies: Contact the local conservation officer toll-free at 1-800-667-7561.