The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutClinton News-Record, 1987-09-23, Page 211 Page 2A—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1987 MNR conducts field trials -to control the spread of rabies For the fourth consecutive year, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) will conduct field trials of a baiting procedure that could eventually be used to control the spread of rabies. Some 34,000 rabies "baits" will be systematically dropped from low-flying air- craft over selected sites in Huron and Grey Counties on September 21, 22 and 23, weather permitting. MNR researchers hope that foxes in particular, the most common carriers of rabies in Ontario, will be at- tracted to and eat the baits. "Many' people don't realize how prevalent rabies is in Ontario", said Natural Resources Minister Vincent Kerrio. "There are more rabid animals reported each year in .southern Ontario's agricultural lands, than in anv other province or state in North America. And in 1986, a record 4,212 On- tarians were treated with rabies vaccine and serum because of exposure to rabid animals." "Foxes account for 65 per cent of rabies cases in the wild. That is why this study con- centrates on foxes." The bait drops will take place as follows: - on September 21, in Huron County in the Townships of Hullett, Goderich, McKillop, Stanley and Tuckersmith, and a portion of Morris; - on September 22, in Huron County in the Townships of Ashfield, Colborne, Grey, Howick, Turnberry and West Wawanosh, and the remainder of Morris; - on September 23, in the Townships of Ben - tick, Egremont, Glenelg and Normanby in Grey County. The purpose of this year's field trials is to Take preventative measures against rabies by Sheryl Feagan Health Education Consultant Huron County Health Unit Rabies is a contagious and fatal disease. People get rabies from a virus carried in the saliva of infected animals such as dogs, cats, and livestock, or infected wildlife such as skunks, foxes, bats, racoons. Any warm- blooded animal can get the disease and pass it to others. The rabies virus attacks the cen- tral nervous system eventually working its way to the brain. Once symptoms appear, death is inevitable. Animals don't all behave the same when they have rabies. In some animals, the symptoms are more pronounced. Cats fre- quently become vicious. They hide, then spring from their hiding place at any animal or person passing by, inflicting bites and scratches. Dogs may wander aimlessly and inflict bites without provocation when it en- counters other animals or people who in- terfere with it. Cattle become restless and aggressive, suffer muscle spasms, lose their appetite, strain, and appear to be choking. Wild animals may lose their natural shyness, appear fearless and may attack livestock or pets. The spread of rabies virus can only be stopped with injections of a rabies vaccine. Once symptoms appear, they are pro- gressive and fatal. If you are bitten, licked, or scratched by an animal that might have rabies: immediat '1v wash the wnnnd or area of contact thoroughly with soap and water and apply an antiseptic; call your doctor; and contact your local health unit for information that can assist you in finding the suspected animal and for advice on the next step of treatment. Better Safe Than Sorry You don't want rabies to attack you, your children, your animals or anyone else you care about. Keeping the following do's and don'ts in mind can help you prevent this from happening: vaccinate your pets and domestic animals against rabies anually; never approach or attempt to play with stray cats and dogs - unknown animals can be unfriendly and dangerous; observe and feed wildlife from a distance and caution your children about "friendly" wild animals; always keep your pets under con- trol and lock them indoors at night because many night -roaming animals, like skunks, carry and transmit rabies; if you camp, hunt, or hike in the woods be cautious about meeting wild animals; never touch an animal that is dead or that you suspect of having rabies unless it's absolutely necessary - if you do, wear leather gloves and wash with a 'disinfectant afterwards; and never kill a suspected rabid animal unless it's wild and attacks you. Instead try to isolate the animal and call your Health Unit for professional help and advice. Rabies is no way for a friend to die. When you deliver your White Bean Crop to Ken R. Campbell & Sons Ltd., Seaforth Howson & Howson Ltd., Blyth, Ontario Palmerston Elevators Ltd. Bar' B - Dee Farms, RR 1 Bornholm are also white bean receiving satellites for Thompson's We want and appreciate your business Hyland Brand Augusta Seed Wheat Hyland Brand Houser Seed Wheat Fredrick Seed Wheat Cert. Monopol Red Winter Wheat Be sure you buy Blue Tag Seed Only This assures you of "Certified" #1 Seed for "Purity" . "Quality" and "Top Yields." Any other facsimile is not the same. Available only at Thornpson's or a Hyland Dealer "For larger growers" wishing Certified seed in Bulk we can supply. Please order ahead. ALL SEED IS TREATED WITH VITAFLO " 280" - Custom Fertilizer Spreading - Soil Sampling Service - Computerized Reports - Recommendations from a Qualified Staff For purity, top germination, diseas. free Sow only Certified Hyland Seed FERTILIZERS Granton 225.2360 fine-tune and determine the most economical methods of vaccinating wildlife against rabies, and to develop a form of bait that will be most acceptable to the animals. In past years, the vaccine was contained in a sponge cube coated with beef/liver/hamburger that was sometimes placed inside a plastic bait bag. This year, researchers are testing a bait consisting of a cube of hardened wax, beef fat and mineral oil. It contains a chicken flavor to attract foxes, and is colored green to repel other animals, mainly crows. It also contains tetracycline, a chemical that will mark the foxes' teeth to provide evidence the animal did in fact eat the bait. The vaccine fluid is in the centre of the bait cube in a small plastic package. About 13,000 baits will contain vaccine and about 21,000 will not. Results will be compared to see if the presence of the vaccine itself has any effect for foxes eating the baits. The success of the field trial will be determined later this year during the trapping season, by studying samples of blood and teeth' from foxes. Some of the bait will be contained in plastic bags, as in previous years, others will not. This will decide if a plastic bag is actually needed to attract foxes,. as in the case of the earlier sponge -type baits, and better protect the vaccine. Every bait, whether in a plastic bag or not, carries a label indicating it has a rabies vaccine and giving an MNR toll1free telephone number for more information. "People should not disturb the baits", said Mr. Kerrio. "The vaccine poses no danger to pets or domestic animals. A pet that does eat the bait should not be con- sidered immunized against rabies; your animal still requires a proper vaccination by a veterinarian. iiTi/I/1I!FN 482-7103 PECK APPLIANCES "IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VARNA" Comp -Account Computerized Accounting For small & medium sued businesses Pri% ne corporations, manufacturers. • Financial statements and projections • Accounts receivable/payable • Payroll • Management rrports • Compktc management accounting and bookkeeping services Don V fly By the Seat of Your Panus! Let us help you manage your business better with accurate, timely management rrports. Call Now - 262-3431 Highway 4 - Hensall Twin City School of ri Hairstyling Waterloo, Ont. • Hairstyling • Barbering •Ear Piercing •Make-up 55 Erb St. East Monday to Frida If you wish to secure a lifetime income from an RRSP or are interested in other RRSP in- vestments at very competitive rates. call Arnold J. Stinnissen 527-0410 Tony Arts 527-0794 Income from an RRSP is no longer restricted to the minimum age of 60, Su nii e OF CANADA and which call If you're NEW IN TOWN don't know way to turn, hostess at vveidne, 482-5625