THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Between January and September of this year, 397 laboratory-confirmed rabies cases in animals were reported to the CFIA. In 2025, there were 281 cases in the entire year.
Public health officials emphasize that rabies infections in humans are still "extremely rare."
Here's what you need to know.
WHAT IS RABIES?
Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system, including the brain. In Canada, rabies infections in humans are rare, but almost always fatal if it's not treated before symptoms develop.
The virus infects the nerves around the site where it entered the body and then makes its way into the spinal cord and brain, ultimately leading to death.
HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?
Rabies is transmitted to humans when they are bitten or scratched by an infected animal. Saliva is the most common source of transmission. In Canada, wild animals such as bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes are the main carriers of rabies, but they can transmit it to pets such as cats or dogs and farm animals.
Bats are the main carrier of rabies in Canada. Experts urge people to see a health-care provider if they've had suspected contact with any bat because their bites or scratches are tiny and might go unnoticed.
People should also seek medical attention immediately if they have come into contact with other animals that may have rabies.
On Wednesday, Vancouver Coastal Health issued a news bulletin about a skunk with rabies that had bitten a "small" number of people in Vancouver. Those people were treated and the health authority urged anyone who may have been bitten or scratched by a skunk in the city's West End neighbourhood between Sept. 22 and Oct. 17 to contact them.
The government of Quebec has reported an outbreak of rabies in raccoons and is continuing to do surveillance. Its latest count available online is 313 confirmed raccoons with rabies in the province since the beginning of the year. Three cats have been infected through raccoons.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?
There is no treatment for animals with rabies. The only way for the infection to be confirmed in animals is to examine the brain after death.
Humans must receive treatment before symptoms appear, which usually happens about three to eight weeks after exposure, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
People should thoroughly wash the area where they were bitten or scratched with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
The treatment is a series of vaccines and an immunoglobulin injection.
The first rabies vaccine shot is given immediately, followed by shots on days three, seven and 14.
The immunoglobulin injection, a ready-made antibody that starts fighting the virus right away, is also administered because it takes time for the body to mount an immune response from the vaccinations.
Side effects of the vaccine are usually mild and temporary. They can include fever, chills, sweats and feeling unwell.
A skunk struggling to cross a Vancouver street is shown in this handout still from a video posted on Facebook on Oct. 10, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Facebook, Vancouver Kick (Mandatory Credit)
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND PETS?
The Wildlife Rescue Association of BC said in a news release on Friday that the most effective prevention strategy for people is to "avoid direct physical contact with wildlife, particularly animals that appear sick, injured, unusually aggressive, lethargic, or disoriented."
The association also urged people to make sure their pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations and to "keep them leashed and supervised outdoors to help prevent contact with wildlife."
HOW COMMON IS RABIES DEATH IN HUMANS?
There have been 28 deaths from rabies in humans reported since 1924.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
By Nicole Ireland | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Prime Minister Mark Carney says a Canadian company's bid to supply nuclear energy to Turkey has a real shot of winning the lucrative tender.
Carney is meeting with Turkish business leaders in Istanbul today, a day after he announced a new strategic partnership between Canada and Turkey to deepen co-operation on a range of files.
Energy is one of the pillars of that agreement, and he says the AtkinsRéalis bid to supply two planned Turkish power plants with the Candu nuclear reactor now has "good chances" of succeeding.
Carney is in Turkey for a three-day trip to strike a new strategic partnership and pursue free trade with the NATO ally.
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Family says soldier killed in fire lived his dream
The mother of a Canadian soldier killed in a fire at a military base in Alberta says his lifelong goal was to join the Forces and wear his uniform with pride.
Patricia Farrell says her son, Private Shaun Farrell, lived with dyslexia and Asperger's syndrome, and overcame any obstacle in his way.
The 23-year-old was one of four soldiers killed Saturday when a grass fire, fanned by high winds, at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright overtook a live-fire training exercise on a nearby grenade range.
Out of the 84 soldiers on the exercise, 39 were sent to hospital.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney makes his way to a news conference in Istanbul, Turkey Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Carney sees 'no merit' in U.S. politics interference claim
Prime Minister Mark Carney says there is "no merit" to American claims that Canadians might be interfering in U.S. politics ahead of November's midterm elections.
Officials in the Trump administration, including U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, have claimed Canadian politicians are interfering in the democratic process south of the border.
Hoekstra has said the administration is watching Canadian politicians closely ahead of the midterms and warned them to butt out of American politics.
Carney has consistently rebutted accusations of electoral interference and told reporters in Turkey today that he's "disappointed" the U.S. envoy is spreading those claims.
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A Canadian Forces Hercules drops supplies for troops during Operation Nanook on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, on Baffin Island.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Military may deploy Arctic sensor stations in 2027
National Defence could start installing 47 new sensor stations across the North as early as next summer.
It's called Project Crossbow and it's part of a wider plan to bolster Norad’s surveillance and early warning abilities.
Documents National Defence filed with a Nunavut regulatory board detail some of the plans, although much about the new sensors remains classified.
The installations would start in Yukon near the Alaskan border and follow along the Arctic coast across the Northwest Territories, reaching as far out as Alert, Nvt.
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Former USAID staff and supporters rally to mark one year since USAID was dismantled, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Ottawa says it's working with EU on foreign aid
Canada's closer ties with Europe could help fill some of the gaps left behind as the United States withdraws from foreign aid, says the secretary of state for international development.
Randeep Sarai says Canada is talking with the European Union about leveraging private and philanthropic dollars for foreign aid.
U.S. foreign aid spending dropped 57 per cent in 20-25 after Washington dismantled USAID, an action Harvard University researchers say caused hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is cutting global health spending while encouraging private investment, and Sarai says European officials have looked to him for guidance on the file.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
A Toronto Student Was Charged For Making Racist Comments During An Online Class
One online class had a turn for the worse. A Markham high school student has just been charged after making hateful comments during a virtual learning session.
According to police, the 18-year-old reportedly made multiple "anti-Black comments" during the lesson.
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During the video lesson, an unknown student made several anti-Black comments.
York Regional Police
The incident, which took place on April 15, 2020, got so out of hand that the instructor was forced to stop the class.
"York Regional Police does not tolerate hate crime in any form," stated police.
Tristan Stronach now faces one count of indecent communication.
Anyone with information on the case is being asked to contact the York Regional Police.