Rabies vaccine baits to be spread in Montreal parks

Workers will distribute rabies vaccine baits in Montreal parks over the coming weeks as part of a provincial effort to reduce the risk of an outbreak. The Quebec environment department said it is leading the campaign across parts of Estrie, Montérégie and CentreduQuébec, along with nine parks in the Montreal area. About 815,000 bait packets are being deployed, and each one looks like a small green raviolishaped pouch. Officials said the province has logged 171 raccoon rabies cases this year, including two in cats, along with seven bat rabies cases. One bat case was detected in Montreal in late July. Residents are being told not to handle the baits and to use gloves or a shovel if one must be moved.