Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. In Canada, the animals that most often transmit rabies are bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons.

In Canada, rabies is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Information we provide for the general public includes:

• Fact Sheet
• World Rabies Day

Information we provide for producers and the livestock sector includes:

• Fact Sheet
• Position Statement - Rabies Program
• Positive Rabies in Canada
• Reference Material
  • Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2008 National Association of State Public Health Veterinarian, Inc. (NASPHV)
  • OIE, Terrestrial Animals Health Code: Rabies
  • WHO, Expert Consultation on Rabies, First Report, 2005 - PDF (503 kb)