Raccoon rabies cases detected in the Memphrémagog regional county municipality in Quebec have prompted a large-scale aerial vaccination campaign by provincial authorities. The Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation confirmed that 10 cases have been identified in the region since the beginning of the year, following new discoveries in Magog, Ogden, and the Canton de Potton.
Aerial Vaccine Drops Target 62 Municipalities in Southern Quebec
To halt the geographic spread of the virus, the provincial government deployed an aerial vaccination operation between September 19 and September 23. Aircraft distributed approximately 440 000 vaccine baits by flying at low altitudes across a territory of près de 3 200 kilomètres carrés, according to the ministry. The campaign covered 62 municipalities, including 29 in Estrie, 22 in Montérégie, and 11 in Centre-du-Québec. This airborne effort complemented manual bait distribution previously conducted in rural, agricultural, and urban settings, with the aerial drops specifically targeting wooded zones to immunize raccoons, skunks, and foxes.
Confirmed Cases and Domestic Animal Risks
Recent statistics compiled by the ministry show raccoon rabies was identified on August 17 and August 23 in Magog, which was also affected during a previous wave in May. A second case was confirmed in Ogden on August 22, following an earlier detection in June, while two additional cases were logged in the Canton de Potton in August and three cases were found in Stanstead in April. Provincial officials emphasize that rabies is a contagious and fatal viral disease capable of infecting all mammals, including humans and domestic pets. Highlighting the domestic risk, two cases were discovered in cats in July 2026, prompting the ministry to urge pet owners to ensure their animals are vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian.
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