Quebec public health officials have confirmed a second cat infected with raccoon rabies in the Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie region, prompting three additional people to receive emergency preventative treatment for potential rabies exposure, the Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie Public Health Department announced Monday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The newly confirmed animal was found in Saint-Anicet. A departmental spokesperson confirmed to media that the three individuals now receiving treatment are separate from those affected in late July, when Quebec first reported raccoon rabies in a domestic cat in the municipality of Godmanchester \u2014 also in Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
That initial July 29 confirmation triggered post-exposure prophylaxis for three people who had been in contact with the Godmanchester cat. The treatment involves a multi-dose vaccine series. Officials emphasize that administering such preventative care is not unusual when potential exposure occurs.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The numbers are stark. Quebec has recorded 139 confirmed cases of raccoon rabies so far in 2026, compared to 93 cases across the entire province in 2025. The Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie region accounts for roughly 80 per cent of this year’s cases \u2014 a concentration that underscores the geographic pressure the region is facing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“This new case serves as a reminder that rabies continues to spread among wild animals and that domestic animals can also be infected,” public health officials stated, urging residents to remain vigilant and to report any dead, injured, disoriented, paralyzed, or unusually aggressive animals to the appropriate authorities.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Health authorities are calling on pet owners to act now. Keeping pets’ vaccinations current is the single most direct protective measure available. Officials also urge residents to prevent pets from roaming outside unsupervised, to avoid any contact with wild or unknown animals \u2014 including carcasses \u2014 and to consult a veterinarian promptly if a pet has interacted with wildlife.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Any pet showing symptoms consistent with rabies \u2014 excessive drooling, paralysis, or unusual aggression \u2014 should be isolated immediately. Residents are also advised to avoid practices that attract wildlife near the home, such as leaving food scraps accessible outdoors.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The province’s public health network continues to monitor the situation closely as the outbreak extends deeper into the 2026 season.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New Exposure Cases Confirmed Quebec public health officials have confirmed a second cat infected with raccoon rabies in the Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie region, prompting three additional people to receive emergency preventative treatment for potential rabies exposure, the Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie Public Health Department announced Monday. The newly confirmed animal was found in Saint-Anicet. A departmental spokesperson confirmed to media […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1414,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-canada","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n