Another cow tests positive for rabies in Perth County

Another cow has tested positive for the Arctic fox strain of rabies in Perth County, bringing the total number of rabies cases in the region to six since 2015.

The young heifer was located on a farm in Elma Ward near Listowel where another cow contracted the disease in November 2016.

• Second calf tests positive for rabies on farm in Perth County
• Calf tests positive for rabies on beef farm in Perth County

Elma Ward is a rural farming community including Atwood, Britton, Donegal, Gotham, Newry and Trowbridge in the municipality of North Perth.

"This positive result continues to remind us that rabies is still present in Perth County," Dale Lyttle, senior public health inspector, said in a press release.

Animals confined for 40 days

The infected calf most likely contracted rabies by coming into contact with a rabid wild animal, such as a skunk or fox.

The local health unit is currently working with the farm to determine potential human exposure.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has placed the remaining farm animals under a 40 day period of confinement, until it is determined that no other cattle have contracted the disease.

So far, the following animals have tested positive for rabies in Perth County:

• The first animal, a calf, tests positive in December 2015.
• A skunk located in Ellice Ward tests positive in April 2016.
• A cow from a dairy farm in Elma Ward tests positive in November 2016.
• A calf from a beef farm in Wallace Ward tests positive in January 2017.
• A second calf from the same beef farm in Wallace Ward tests positive in January 2017.
• A young heifer from a dairy farm in Elma Ward tests positive in March 2017.