Rabid Raccoon Confirmed Near Canada - Vermont Border

Quebec's Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs recently advised the public that a raccoon infected with the rabies virus was found dead in Saint-Armand, in the Estrie region, on December 17, 2024.

As of January 15, 2025, this is the first case of raccoon rabies in Québec since 2015.

The animal was found about 1.4 kilometers from where a case had been discovered near the Québec border, in the municipality of Highgate, Vermont.

In a media release, the government stated that 'it should be noted that over the past year, several cases of raccoon rabies have been identified in northern Vermont.

The evolution of the situation is being closely monitored by the Gouvernement du Québec, which continues its close cooperation with American authorities to optimize control and surveillance efforts on both sides of the border. 

Raccoon, skunk, and fox vaccination interventions are planned for 2025. An analysis is underway to determine the best intervention strategy, which will be tailored to the situation. 

In the United States, most rabies infections are related to infected bat bites.

In December 2024, the Kentucky and California health departments reported people had died after being infected with the rabies virus.

Furthermore, rabies vaccines for people are offered at various clinics and travel pharmacies in 2025.