York Region confirms first 2024 case of rabies after infected bat found in Whitchurch-Stouffville
A bat is seen mid-flight in this generic image from Getty. (Source: Getty Images)
York Region is reporting its first case of rabies for 2024.
In a June 14 news release, the Regional Municipality of York said it has received confirmation that a bat has tested positive for the virus in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Rabies is a virus that affects the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans.
It is transmitted through a bite, a lick, or a scratch from an infected animal.
Typically, most cases are seen in bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks, but dogs and cats are also at risk of contracting rabies.
The region said that the virus is “usually always fatal” for animals and humans, however a post-exposure vaccine is available for those who come into contact with a potentially rabid animal.
York Region Public Health (YRPH) investigates all animal bites and non-bite incidents like scratches and contact with open cuts.
Anyone who has been bitten, scratched, or had contact with a warm-blooded mammal is being advised to immediately wash the wound with soap and water for a minimum of 15 minutes, seek medical attention, and report the incident to YRPH at 1-800-361-5653.
And while the risk of rabies infection is low, the Regional Municipality of York is reminding residents to be aware of what they can do to prevent rabies:
-Do not feed, touch, or allow pets to come into contact with any wild or stray animal
-Avoid moving or attempting to relocate any wild or strange animals, especially those that may be behaving oddly
-Ensure your pets are up to date on their mandatory rabies vaccination
-If you suspect your pet or livestock have come in contact with a bat, skunk, raccoon or another wild or stray animal, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible
-Take measures to keep wild or stray animals away from your home
-Contact a professional company to proof your home from nesting wild animals
For more information about rabies control can be found online.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
War monitor says Assad has fled Syria after rebels enter capital
The head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said early Sunday that Syria’s President Bashar Assad left the country for an undisclosed location.
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
Search for UnitedHealthcare CEO's killer yields evidence, but few answers
As the search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer goes on, investigators are reckoning with a tantalizing dichotomy: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma.
Digging themselves out: With Santa Claus parade cancelled, Londoners make best of snowy situation
Londoners continue to dig themselves out from this week’s massive snowstorm.
Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Groups launch legal challenge against Alberta's new gender-affirming treatment law
A pair of LGBTQ2S+ advocate organizations say they've followed through with their plan to challenge Alberta's three transgender bills in court, starting with one that bars doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16.
Canada's air force took video of object shot down over Yukon, updated image released
The Canadian military has released more details and an updated image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023.
U.S. announces nearly US$1 billion more in longer-term weapons support for Ukraine
The United States will provide nearly US$1 billion more in longer-term weapons support to Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday.
New plan made to refloat cargo ship stuck in St. Lawrence River for two weeks
Officials say they have come up with a new plan to refloat a large cargo ship that ran aground in the St. Lawrence River two weeks ago after previous efforts to move the vessel were unsuccessful.
Montreal
-
Bilingual municipalities take action as Quebec’s native English speaking population falls
The 2021 Canadian census revealed the number of Quebecers whose mother tongue is English has continued to decline, and several municipalities where native English speakers were once the majority have now fallen below the 50 per cent threshold.
-
Superior Court authorizes class action against junior hockey league over abuse of minors
The Quebec Superior Court authorized the institution of a class action aimed at compensating all minors who suffered abuse while playing in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
-
Man arrested for DUI after car crashed into Mile-End restaurant
A man was arrested for drunk driving after allegedly losing control of his vehicle and hitting three parked cars before skidding off and crashing into a restaurant in Montreal's Mile-End neighbourhood early Saturday morning.
Ottawa
-
Man suffers critical injuries in south Ottawa crash involving dump truck
One person suffered critical injuries after a crash in Ottawa's south end on Saturday evening.
-
WINTER TRAVEL ADVISORY
WINTER TRAVEL ADVISORY Winter travel advisory in effect for Ottawa
A winter travel advisory is in effect for Ottawa. It was issued by Environment Canada Saturday morning and will be in effect starting this afternoon until Sunday morning.
-
What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Dec. 6-8
Santa Claus continues the tour of Ottawa and eastern Ontario, Christmas markets are open across the region and the Senators and 67’s each play twice at home this weekend. CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at things to do in Ottawa and eastern Ontario this weekend.
Northern Ontario
-
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
-
Canada's air force took video of object shot down over Yukon, updated image released
The Canadian military has released more details and an updated image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023.
-
How the combination of diapers and splash pads led to 10K illnesses
New research is raising concerns about the safety of splash pads, which can be ground zero for germs and greatly increase the risk of spreading disease.
Kitchener
-
Chicopee says ski season still a few weeks away
Even though it looks like a winter wonderland outside, skiers and snowboarders will have to wait a few more weeks to hit Kitchener’s slopes.
-
Police seek tips in Waterloo break-in
Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a break-and-enter at a Waterloo business.
-
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
London
-
Digging themselves out: With Santa Claus parade cancelled, Londoners make best of snowy situation
Londoners continue to dig themselves out from this week’s massive snowstorm.
-
Want to become the next LHSC Auxiliary volunteer? Here’s how
The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) Auxiliary is recruiting new members.
-
Cookie inflation: How much more is your holiday baking costing you this year?
Estimate how much more your Christmas cookies will cost to bake this year compared to the past five years using Statistics Canada's monthly average retail price data.
Windsor
-
Man arrested after livestreaming sexual abuse of child
The Windsor Police Service say they’ve arrested a 29-year-old man after the sexual abuse of a child was livestreamed on social media.
-
Sparky's Toy Drive fills the tree for 3,000 Windsor-Essex youth
Christmas came early for hundreds of Windsor families who picked up holiday gifts from Sparky’s Toy Drive Saturday morning.
-
Three people with outstanding warrants arrested by CK police
Chatham-Kent police arrested three people with outstanding warrants on Friday.
Barrie
-
Driver charged after passing snow plow in front of oncoming OPP vehicle
A driver was pulled over and charged after passing a snow plow in front of an oncoming OPP vehicle.
-
One dead in three-vehicle crash
Police are investigating a three-vehicle overnight collision in Caledon, which resulted in the death of one driver.
-
OPP make arrests in three impaired driving incidents in one night
Three drivers are facing multiple charges after OPP responded to three different reported impaired driving incidents in the same night in Orillia.
Winnipeg
-
Wintery weather warnings in effect for southern Manitoba
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued several snowfall, winter storm and freezing rain warnings for much of southern Manitoba.
-
Manitoba legislative building holds annual holiday open house
The provincial legislative building opened its doors to Manitobans Saturday, inviting everyone to get a glimpse of where major decisions are made.
-
Major Manitoba fossil milestones highlight the potential for future discoveries in the province
A trio of fossil finds through the years helped put Manitoba on the mosasaur map, and the milestone of those finds have all been marked in 2024.
Atlantic
-
The 61st Annual Christmas Daddies Telethon raises more than $559,000 for children in need
The 61st annual Christmas Daddies Telethon continued its proud Maritime tradition, raising more than $559,000 for children in need on Saturday.
-
Fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia brings Christmas past into the present
The Fortress of Louisbourg Association and Parks Canada are encouraging visitors to see the historic site in the winter with a Christmas concert series.
-
StatsCan data says 3 in 10 residential property buyers in N.S. were investors from 2018-2020
Statistics Canada says investors represented three in 10 residential property buyers in Nova Scotia between 2018 and 2020 -- the highest volume of such buyers among provinces where data is available.
N.L.
-
Not just for your parents: Facebook's buy-and-sell platform drawing back millennials
The two-metre-tall anchor, believed to be from a century-old shipwreck, was salvaged by a fisherman in the 1980s. But last year, the 31-year-old Stapleton, who works as a navigation officer on a cargo ship, snapped it up on Facebook Marketplace.
-
'Kids are scared': Random attacks have residents of small-city N.L. shaken
Mount Pearl, near St. John's, has been the scene for three random attacks in November. Police have arrested and charged seven youth.
-
'They're sitting ducks:' More women with disabilities unhoused due to abuse, violence
New data show women with disabilities are more likely to be forced into homelessness because of violence or abuse.
Edmonton
-
2 arrested in connection with Friday killing of 20-year-old security guard
Two people have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old security guard at a downtown apartment building on Friday.
-
Groups launch legal challenge against Alberta's new gender-affirming treatment law
A pair of LGBTQ2S+ advocate organizations say they've followed through with their plan to challenge Alberta's three transgender bills in court, starting with one that bars doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16.
-
Bill fast-tracking resort development sets 'problematic' precedent, critics say
A bill giving Alberta’s government power to reclassify land in provincial parks for the development of all-season resorts has some concerned about environmental impacts and the “problematic” precedent it sets by allowing the province to bypass existing legislation.
Calgary
-
Man dies after vehicle pins him to tree in southwest Calgary crash
A man is dead after he was pinned to a tree by a truck Friday afternoon in the southwest community of Patterson Heights.
-
Groups launch legal challenge against Alberta's new gender-affirming treatment law
A pair of LGBTQ2S+ advocate organizations say they've followed through with their plan to challenge Alberta's three transgender bills in court, starting with one that bars doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16.
-
Calgarians flocking to markets with local vendors for Christmas Shopping
As Christmas is on the horizon, Calgarians headed to the markets across the city on Saturday to get some shopping done while also supporting local businesses.
Regina
-
Regina holiday market booming as vendors encourage local shopping amid postal strike
The holidays are the busiest time of year for countless businesses, but many Regina vendors are hoping Christmas shoppers will come to them this year amid ongoing job action at Canada Post.
-
Freezing rain warning issued for Regina, other parts of southern Sask.
A freezing rain warning is in effect for Regina and other parts of southern Saskatchewan on Saturday, as a system moving through the province also prompted a winter storm warning further north including Saskatoon.
-
Sask. woman killed after vehicle crashes into bottom of embankment: RCMP
A 50-year-old woman from Hudson Bay, Sask. was killed after the vehicle she was in left the roadway on Highway 9 on Friday.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon under winter storm warning with freezing rain, heavy snow forecasted
A winter storm warning has been issued for the city of Saskatoon and parts of west central Saskatchewan by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
-
Sask. RCMP investigating homicide on Onion Lake Cree Nation
Saskatchewan RCMP is investigating a homicide on Onion Lake Cree Nation after a 37-year-old man died early Friday morning.
-
Sask. doctor facing professional charges in circumcision case
A Saskatoon doctor has been accused of unprofessional conduct following a high-cost adult circumcision that included a request for the patient to text unsecured post-op pictures of his genitals.
Vancouver
-
Coquitlam RCMP seek help identifying suspect who sexually assaulted 7 women
Mounties in Coquitlam say they’re looking for a man accused of committing a string of sexual assaults in the city over the past few days.
-
B.C. NDP provincial director hospitalized after 'serious medical emergency'
The former B.C. NDP MLA for Chilliwack and newly appointed provincial director, Dan Coulter, is in hospital after suffering a “serious medical emergency,” according to the party.
-
Prince George Taylor Swift fans rent car after flight to Vancouver cancelled
A diehard Taylor Swift fan who lives in Prince George, B.C., says a flight cancellation forced her and a group of other Swifties to rent a car and make the near 800-kilometre journey to Vancouver to catch the last dates of the Eras Tour.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. NDP provincial director hospitalized after 'serious medical emergency'
The former B.C. NDP MLA for Chilliwack and newly appointed provincial director, Dan Coulter, is in hospital after suffering a “serious medical emergency,” according to the party.
-
Prince George Taylor Swift fans rent car after flight to Vancouver cancelled
A diehard Taylor Swift fan who lives in Prince George, B.C., says a flight cancellation forced her and a group of other Swifties to rent a car and make the near 800-kilometre journey to Vancouver to catch the last dates of the Eras Tour.
-
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
