The Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries has confirmed a positive case of rabies in a raccoon in the Upper Kent area, between Florenceville-Bristol and Perth-Andover.

Public Health can provide effective treatment to anyone at risk of exposure to the virus after contact with a rabid animal; it does not consider this case to be a threat to the general public.

Oral rabies vaccine baits are being distributed where raccoons and skunks may find them. This is an extension of the rabies prevention and control measures conducted in western New Brunswick each summer. Some live traps will be set, as well, to help monitor the population.

The vaccine baits pose little risk to humans or domestic animals. Any vaccine bait found should be left alone.

Rabid animals may not show signs or symptoms right away. People are urged to take steps to protect themselves, their families, their pets and any livestock from rabies by keeping a safe distance from wildlife, by not adopting wildlife as pets, by not interfering with wild animals that appear abandoned, and not moving or relocating wildlife.

New Brunswickers should ensure the vaccinations of pets are up to date and seek medical attention promptly if they have been bitten or scratched by an animal that could potentially be rabid.

The public is urged to report raccoons, skunks and foxes that appear sick and may have rabies to Tele-Care 811.

More information on rabies, including a surveillance map of confirmed cases, is available on the provincial government’s website.