Spread of Infection

Dog-Mediated Rabies

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic viral disease affecting the central nervous system. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is nearly 100% fatal. In up to 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for rabies virus transmission to humans. Yet, rabies can affect both domestic and wild animals. It can spread to people and animals via saliva, usually through bites, scratches, or direct contact with the mucosa (e.g., eyes, mouths, or open wounds). Children between the ages of 5 and 14 are frequent victims (World Health Organization, 2023).

Global Impact

Rabies is estimated to cause 59,000 human casualties annually, with 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia. Due to underreporting, this number is likely a gross underestimate. The burden of disease is disproportionately borne by rural and poor populations, with approximately half of the cases traceable to children under 15 years of age (World Health Organization, 2023).

The total economic burden of rabies is estimated at $8.6 billion annually—this includes medical expenses, lost income, and unmeasured emotional trauma.

Though rabies is classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), it continues to affect vulnerable and underserved communities the most. While effective vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) are available, they remain out of reach for many due to cost and accessibility. In 2018, the average cost of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was around $108—a significant burden for those living on $1–2 per day. Despite this, more than 29 million people receive the rabies vaccine annually after potential exposure (World Health Organization: WHO, 2024).

Rabies Beyond Dogs

In regions like the Americas, where rabies spread by dogs is largely under control, the main threat now comes from blood-feeding bats. Bat-related rabies is also emerging in parts of Australia and Western Europe.

Cases linked to other wildlife—such as foxes, raccoons, and skunks—are extremely rare, and rodent bites have never been shown to transmit the virus.

Other transmission routes, such as inhaling virus particles, eating raw meat or milk from infected animals, or receiving organs from infected donors, are extremely rare. Though human-to-human transmission is theoretically possible, it has never been confirmed (World Health Organization: WHO, 2024).

Rabies in Canada

The epidemiology of rabies in Canada differs significantly from the global pattern. While domestic dogs are responsible for the vast majority of human rabies cases worldwide, dog-maintained rabies virus variants have been eliminated from Canada. Rabies risk in Canada is instead primarily associated with wildlife reservoirs.

Different rabies virus variants are adapted to particular reservoir species and geographic regions. In Canada, important wildlife reservoirs include bats, skunks, arctic foxes, and raccoons. Infected wildlife can also transmit rabies to other mammals, including dogs, cats, livestock, and humans.

This distinction is important: a domestic animal that develops rabies in Canada does not necessarily represent continued transmission of a dog-maintained rabies variant. Domestic animals can become infected following exposure to rabid wildlife, which is one reason routine rabies vaccination of pets remains an important preventive measure.

Rabies in Manitoba

In Manitoba, the principal rabies reservoir species are bats, skunks, and arctic foxes. Historically, skunks have been an important reservoir within the province, while bats are found throughout Manitoba and can also present a potential source of exposure.

Rabies virus can occasionally spread from these wildlife reservoirs to other mammals, including domestic animals. Vaccinating dogs, cats, and other animals for which rabies vaccination is recommended therefore helps protect individual animals while also reducing the possibility of transmission following contact with infected wildlife.

People should avoid approaching or handling wild animals, particularly animals displaying unusual behaviour. Potential exposures—including bites, scratches, or situations in which saliva from a potentially rabid animal may have contacted broken skin or mucous membranes—should be assessed promptly by the appropriate health professionals.

Rabies prevention in Manitoba follows a One Health approach, recognizing the connection between human, animal, and environmental health. Rabies response involves collaboration across animal health, public health, wildlife health, laboratory services, and other sectors to assess exposures, test animals when appropriate, and help prevent transmission.