Rabies in your country?

Question

We don't have rabies in Australia and I was curious to know do you have rabies in your country (Please state your country)?

Does everyone vaccinate for rabies? or is this an ongoing problem?

What does your country do to make sure everyone vaccinates?

Answer 1

I live in Canada - and we have rabies.  We have Raccoon Rabies and Arctic Fox Rabies (different strains).

Rabies vaccines are required by law every 1-3 years for dogs, but im sure there are plenty of people who do not vaccinate.  It is also not manditory for cats, which sucks.

Rabies is more a problem in Bats, Skunks, Foxes, Cows etc... than it is in Dogs and Cats (in Ontario anyway).  We have had people get Rabies from Bats in Canada.

Answer 2

Yeah USA got racoon, squirrels, cats rabbies and probably a bunch more.....I dont think we vaccinate for rabbies where I live but it's possible. I dont really know! If we do, then I imagine we get it as youngsters from a shot. ( that would explain why i don't know.. lol)

Answer 3

Canada- and yes, we have rabies!  

By law, a rabies vaccine is required, on either a one or 3 year schedule.  To make sure everyone vaccinates?  I don't really know - I know you get a dog tag with your rabies vaccine that also acts as a "lost dog" tag since there is a number on it that is registered to your dog.  I don't know what a vet would do if you went in without a rabies tag.  

Also, I cross the Canada-US border with my dog - the ONLY documentation you need is the rabies certificate the vet gives you.

Add: I know in the past Canada has put on large campaigns to inoculate wild animals using baits with the vaccine in it.  I had heard it was quite successful at reducing the incident of rabies.  I don't know if this is on-going, though.

(Add: I'm seeing double tonight - hey wait - this is the cat section!!!)

Answer 4

Still prevalent throughout the southern US, had declined substantially in the north until a resurgence of the racoon strain in the late 1970's-early 1980's (the bat strain is much more difficult to monitor since exposure is limited).  In NY State, where I live, pets are supposed to be licensed and vaccinated, I assume within that standard 1-3 year period (initial vaccination is good for one year; subsequent inoculations are expected to effective for up to 3 years) but there's no way of knowing how many aren't.  You can be fined for having a pet that's unlicensed and unvaccinated, but towns and cities are responsible for enforcement, and it varies tremendously, usually only becoming an issue when there's evidence of rabies in wild animals in a specific geographic area.  In the suburban county I live in (urban to rural with a total population of about 1 million) we see an average of 40-50 cases in wild animals per year, primarily racoons and skunks infected with the racoon strain, as well as a dozen or so confirmed cases of bats with their own strain.  These result in 300-500 human contacts requiring treatment annually.  I've been treated myself for exposure after a little battle with a bat that drew blood.  

We have had human infections in my area.  As you know, this is almost universally fatal.  One fatality was a child whose father was a real estate developer who owned the office building I worked in.  After his daughter's death, from an unexplained contact that was thoroughly investigated, he donated a huge amount of money to construct a children's hospital in my town, named in her memory.  Heartening to see that some people don't stay bitter about such things, but devote their energy and resources to improving the world.