Quebec health officials say three more people have received emergency preventative treatment after possible rabies exposure
It has been confirmed that a second cat has raccoon rabies, the Montérégie Public Health Department said in an update Monday
This cat was found in Saint-Anicet in the Montérégie region
A spokesperson for the public health department confirmed to Global News the three people who received treatment were in addition to cases of possible exposure reported at the end of July
The Quebec government confirmed on July 29 that it had identified the first case of raccoon rabies in a cat in Godmanchester in the Montérégie region
Three people were treated with what is known as post-exposure prophylaxis, which includes a multi-dose vaccine series, after they came into contact with that cat
Officials say it is not uncommon for emergency preventative treatment to be given but are reminding the public to be proactive when interacting with animals
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Quebec confirms 1st case of raccoon rabies in stray cat, 3 people exposed
“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 said
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“The public is urged to be particularly vigilant and to report any dead, injured, disoriented, paralyzed, or unusually aggressive animals.”
Raccoon rabies is on the rise in Quebec. According to the province, 139 cases of raccoon rabies have been confirmed so far in 2026. In 2025, there were 93 confirmed cases across the province over the whole year
Approximately 80 per cent of the cases in 2026 were identified in the Montérégie region
To reduce the risk of rabies, the province recommends the following steps:
- Keep pets’ vaccinations up to date,
- Do not allow pets to roam outside unsupervised,
- Avoid contact with wild or unknown animals, including dead animals,
- Consult a veterinarian if a pet has come into contact with a wild animal,
- Isolate any pet showing symptoms of rabies such as drooling, paralysis or unusual aggression, and
- Avoid attracting wildlife near the home.
