The July report on animal rabies cases from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency shows nine new cases in Western Canada and 28 in Ontario.
Ontario confirmed 28 cases of rabies in July, 16 of them in raccoons. Six each were confirmed in bats and skunks.
Saskatchewan confirmed seven cases in July, four in bats, two in skunks and one in a goat. Alberta and British Columbia each confirmed one case of rabies in July, in bats.
There were no July cases reported in any other province or territory.
Rabies is a reportable disease in Canada, so all suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA. The agency updates its list each month.
The viral disease can affect mammals, including humans, and is almost always fatal once contracted.
As of July 28, British Columbia has had five confirmed cases of rabies in animals this year. Alberta has had two, Saskatchewan 18, Manitoba 10 and Ontario 162.
