[DryCreek]

A pup bought at a flea market in the Toronto area has died of Rabies! This pup had contact with many other dogs and people. If you think you've come into contact with this pup, it is imperative that you contact one of these public health numbers!

Here are some regional numbers to call if you believe you came in contact with the puppies:

• Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600
• York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653
• Peel Region Public Health at 905-799-7700

Original story.

Updated story.

[DryCreek]

Update here!

Search widens in rabies scare

11 pups in quarantine, anyone exposed since Jan. 3 at flea market urged to come forward

Jan 26, 2008 04:30 AM
Paola Loriggio
Staff Reporter

Public health officials continue to monitor a growing threat of rabies linked to a border collie puppy that died at the Toronto Humane Society last week.

The dog was one of a dozen pups sold from the Puppies R Us booth at Dr. Flea's, a popular weekend bargain market at Highway 27 and Albion Rd. The vendor also sold pets in Chesley, Ont., under the business name "Feed Me More Pets."

The remaining 11 puppies were taken into city custody yesterday, where they will be quarantined for 10 days, the period it takes for dogs to show symptoms, said Dr. Rosana Pellizzari, associate medical officer of health. If the dogs get sick during that time, their owners will be treated, she said.

Still, Pellizzari added, it's impossible to determine how many other dogs were infected through contact with the litter.

The city urged anyone who may have been exposed to the animals at the market to come forward. Officials fear some flea market customers may be walking around with dormant rabies, which can become life-threatening.

This is the first time a rabid dog has been found in Toronto in more than two decades, said public health spokesperson Susan Sperling.

The original investigation was limited to people who visited the market on Sunday, Jan. 13, the day the puppies were sold. But the city recently expanded its search to include everyone who touched dogs from that vendor since Jan. 3.

So far, about 500 people have called the city's hotline – 416-338-7600.
Several people around the GTA, including about 20 in Toronto, have received the free vaccine as a precaution. Ripples have also been felt as far away as Hamilton, where two adults and a 5-year-old child are being treated.

Toronto resident Natalie Colalillo, 26, called the city Wednesday after she discovered she was at risk.

But she said it took days of back-and-forth with health officials to get the vaccine, which was eventually sent from York Region to her neighbourhood walk-in clinic. She is scheduled for vaccination today.
"It was a very frustrating experience," she said. "They (public health) need to get more organized and focused when they're dealing with a public crisis."

Pellizzari said she couldn't comment on individual cases, but was confident the city has enough vaccines for everyone.

The litter of puppies was traced to a farm in Perth County. The dogs contracted the disease from their mother, who got it from a skunk in November. The litter was sold to the vendor and transported with other dogs to the market.

One puppy purchased at the market was brought to the Toronto Humane Society by its new owners after it fell ill. It bit a society employee, who reported the bite to public health officials.

The puppy tested positive for rabies, triggering the investigation. It died soon after. The employee is getting treatment.

[DryCreek]

Signs to watch for


Rabies is a rare condition in Ontario and, when untreated, is most often fatal for humans and animals alike.

How do people get rabies?

Humans usually get rabies when bitten by a rabid animal. In rare cases, people are exposed to rabies by non-bite exposures, such as scratches, abrasions, and open wounds.
All bites carry a potential risk of rabies transmission.

What are the signs of rabies?

In humans, rabies usually begins with fever, cough, or sore throat. Those symptoms will progressively worsen and may lead to hallucinations and seizures.
But those symptoms may not surface right away. The incubation period – the time between exposure and visible signs of illness – can last from a few days to several years. The length of the incubation period depends on many things, primarily the person's vulnerability to infection.

What's the treatment?

First, wash the bite or wound with soap and water. This simple step can greatly reduce the risk of infection.

Then call your doctor – or, in this case, Toronto Public Health – to get a medical assessment. Health officials will administer a vaccine if necessary, at no cost to the patient.