HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1990-03-28, Page 5County in. mi, t.
BY YVONNE REYNOLDS
Huron County is in the midst of a rabies
outbreak. The ,situation is particularly
serious in the Exeter-Kippen area.
Thirty-one positive cases have been con-
firmed in the county since the beginning of
the year, and 12 premises are currently
under quarantine. In most cases, foxes are
suspected as the source of infection.
Klppen farmer John Coleman has lost
nine young cattlebeasts to the disease in
the last month.
On February 19 Mr. Coleman noticed one
of 10 heifers penned together was acting
strangely, frothing at the mouth, bawling,
and wobbly on its feet. His regular
veterinarian was called, and told the
animals, had been put through the chute
and treated shortly before. The vet listed
a number of possible causes for the abnor-
mal behavior; reaction to the implanted
growth hormones, or to the MGA ad-
ministered to delay heat, or rabies.
A quick phone call brought in Dr. Mark
Raithby, Agriculture Canada's veterinarian
in charge of Huron County. He was sure
they were dealing with rabies.
The sick heifer was shot.
About three weeks later, more animals
in the same pen began exhibiting unusual
symptoms. One died on March 12. Andther
Ag Canada vet, Dr. Desmond Leeper took
over (as Raithby had gone on holiday). Dr.
Leeper sent a sample of the dead heifer's
brain tissue to Ottawa for diagnosis, and
authorized Mr. Coleman to destroy seven
more animals.
The lab results came back on March 14,
confirming that the cause of death was
rabies.
QUARANTINE
Dr. Leeper said the Coleman case is
unusual. He has never known that many
animals to all be infected at the same
time.
Classic symptoms of rabies in cattle are
bawling, yawning, straining, and loss of
muscle control. Animals want to drink but
can't, as the disease begins to paralyze the
Wesoutbreak
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larynx. This also causes the drooling,
frothy saliva.
OW .rebiea has. tiger! confirmed, the
sasses mist be burned or buried. Removal
for dead stock is prohibited
`4Norinally the virus dies very quicldy
once the animal is dead, but depending on
temperature and humidity, it may survive
in the nervous tissue for .longer than you
think," Dr. Leeper explained.
When a quarantine is imposed, any
confined
im tto hat o have been exposed are
depending property. The term varies,
A ding on each situation.
If a rabid fox or skunk is found in a
barn, the restrictions on cattle apply for a
minimum of 60 days. No cattle can be
moved from a farm for at least 40 days if
a -bovine has died on the premises of
rabies.
Farm dogs who may have been exposed
to rabies are subject to different quaran-
tines, depending on the circustances. The
termis six months, if the dog has not been
vaccinated, three months if the dog is
under two years and has only been vac-
cinated once, and the period is shortened
to 30 days for dogs two years or older who
have received more than one rabies vac-
cination, and the vaccinations are up to
date.
Dr. Leeper said vaccine is available for
cows and horses, and must be done once
a year. He cited the case of a horse, vac-
cinated 18 months previously, that died of
rabies at Christmastime in Huron.
VACCINATION
After a case of rabies is diagnosed, the
medical officer of health is also brought in
to assist with the humans involved.
Mr. Coleman and his brother John are
taking the anti -rabies shots, as both had
helped the vet run all 10 animals through
the chute earlier. (All veterinarians protect
themselves by initial shots, then further
prophylactic treatment every two years to
keep their antibodies level at a safely pro-
tective level.)
The process of vaccination for those ex-
posed to the fatal disease is no longer as
ARMBRO EVEREST, owned by Mary McCaII of Seaforth, currently holds the fastest
pacing mile in Canada. Submitted photo.
Se
41
forth -owe eco
A seven-year-old gelding owned by Mrs.
Mary McCall of Seaforth is holding the
fastest mile time for the 1990 Canadian
pacing season.
Armbro Everest, driven by Larry
Walker, won the St. Patrick's day Jr. Free
For All at Greenwood in 1:55. After getting
away fourth in the six -horse field, Armbro
Everest pulled up to third spot after the
p
1011
cer h&
Id
s UUe
third bend while leader Favorite Son carv-
ed splits of :27, :58 and 1:25. W er
brought Armbro Everest past the number
two horse, Folio, and Favorite Son to cross
the line in record time.
The gelding, out of Crash, has improved
his 1990 standings to 4-1-11 in 11 starts for
season earnings of $44,470. His lifetime ear-
nings now stand at $320,586.
painfel as it,once. was,
Ed H:1rson, direc.or of public health in-
spection, o' Huron. County, noted that
HDeps,, :(llama- •:.depio e n cell vaccines)
have replaced the: old type derived from
duck egg embryos and injected 12 to 16
tines in the mid-section. The protein from
the egg was the source of the pain and
discomfort.
Five shots are all that are required now.
eTwo in the rear and the rest in the arm,
ach containing three and one-half ccs of
vaccine,,o according to Mr. Coleman.
COMPENSATION
Farmers who lost cattle to rabies are
compensated by the federal government at
up to $1,000 per animal.
Foxes and skunks .are . the main carriers
of rabies in rural areas. The Colemans
have sighted foxes on or near their proper-
ty more than once this year.
Dr. Leeper said making a barn fox -proof
is almost impossible. The animals have the
ability to go through very small openings.
BOUNTY OR BAIT DROP?
John Coleman would like to see a boun-
ty on the species as one way of fighting
rabies.
Dr. Charles McGuiness, manager of the
Wildlife Research. Station at Maple, On-
tario, argues that a bounty would be
useless. He noted that until two years ago,
when fox pelt were worth up to $50, trap-
pers in Huron brought in more foxes than
anywhere else in Southwestern Ontario.
"And we still had foxes coming out our
ears! What good would a $25 bounty do?"
he wondered.
Mr. McGuiness went on to say that to
have a real effect on combatting rabies,
the fox population would have to be reduc-
ed by 80 per cent each year. The animals
are so prolific that cutting their numbers.
by 60 per cent annually just results in a
stable population. In the heyday of trapp-
ing, only 40 to 50 per cent of the animals
were taken. Even a drastic action like
gassing young roxes in their dens, as was
done in West Germany, did not eradicate
rabies.
Mr. McGuiness believes that getting the
vaccine into the wildlife population is the
most effective counter measure. The
research station initiated an experimental
program in 1987 in which vacccine-laced
bait was dropped around the county.
Results showed that 60 per cent of the
animals caught had taken the bait.
However, only 40 per cent had developed
the rabies antibody.
Mr. McGuiness suspects the wild animals
were more suspicious of the plastic -
encased liquid that captive foxes were, and
more wary about chewing into something
foreign.
Research scientists are working on
another vaccine which they hope will be
stable enough to be freeze-dried and mix-
ed right in with the bait.
Another bait drop is planned for this fall
in Huron. This will concentrate on an ef-
fective dropping pattern to get the most
results with the least cost, as the vaccine
program is expensive.
Mr. McGuiness expects a fairly low in-
cidence ofrabies in Huron this year. The
'sease seems to peak every six to seven
years in the county.
LOCAL CONTACT
The Agriculture Canada veternarians can
be reached at the Seaforth office, 527-1470.
PIE HURON EXPOSITOR, MARCH 28, 1990 _ 5'
SPE ING.
APRIL...
Priorose
Powke
37 Main Street, Seaforth
"7're
SEAFORTH & DISTRICT PRE-SCHOOL
LEARNING CENTRE
GISTRATION
FOR THE 1990-91
SCHOOL YEAR
MONDAY & TUESDAY, APRIL 2 & 3
7:00-8:30 P.M.
126 MARKET STs, SEAFORTH (AT THE SCHOOL)
Pease bring registration fee of $25.00 ($30.00/family of 2 or
more attending) and child's record of innoculations to
registration.
PORK BUTT rn
CHOPS
PEAMEAL
BACK BACON LB
. 2.99
LEAN GPOUN
EEF
„2 .19
4 VARIETIES - 160 G.
BAGEL SNACKS
PKG. 1 p 99
TOWN CLUB
S!'JOKED LOAN
PORK C OPS
DELI SLICED
COOKED
AM
LB. 1 . 7
STOREMADE PLAIN OR GARLIC
SAUSAGE `�
LB. fJ o / 9
SIRLOIN TIP, i°IUJiPOP
ROUND STEAK ROAST
L. 3.69
LB. 3.3
arts & Accessories
EMPLOYER
EALTH
TAX
YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR
OPEN HOUSEvittw
1014 fir:
Thursday, March 29 , ' 411WV,,,
We'll be serving up our World Famous
CASE IH PANCAKES
9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m.
.Specially priced equipment - LaWn & Garden,
ATV, Seadoo, Pressure Washers
Factory Direct Parts Specials
pi4n , ,,,,,,,,,. •. Team Personnel
On Hand
STOCK UP
PARTS BOOKLET
SPECIALS
Extended To
MARCH 29
If you haven't received
your copy yet, drop In.
In January 1990, the Employer Health Tax (EHT) replaced O11 -11P
premium payments as a method of contributing towards the cost
of health care in Ontario.
Liability for the tax began in January. All employers with permanent
establishments in Ontario are required to pay the ElIT on a
monthly or quarterly basis, depending on gross salaries and
wages paid to employees.
Employers who are on a quarterly remittance schedule are
required to make their first payment no later than April 15,
1990.
Any employers who have not yet received information or remit-
tance statement materials from the Ministry should call any of
the following numbers to avoid incurring penalties and interest
for tax payments due:
• Metro Toronto
• All other areas
• French language enquiries
• Telephone device for the deaf
965-8470
1-800-263-7965
1-800-668-5821
1-800-263-7776
FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED
mime
Ontario
Ministry
of
Revenue
Remo Mancini
Minister
A
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