La stratégie Québécoise sur la santé des animaux sauvages

Raccoon rabies control in Quebec, Canada
NEUSAHA annual meeting - Harrisburg
Marianne Gagnier – [email protected]
Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs
April 27, 2014
History of Raccoon Rabies in Quebec
•
2000: In Canada, first cases reported
in NB (from ME)
Québec
•
2006: First cases in Quebec (from
VT)
•
2006 - 2009: 104 cases were
confirmed in Québec
Virginie
Raccoon Rabies Control Program : 2006-2009
2006
2009
2007
2008
Positive effects of the Program:
- 2006 to 2009: decrease of affected area
- Last cases in 2009
- Since 2010: Quebec is “Rabies Free”
- Quebec Rabies Control Program: a « success story »
3
Evolution of the Control Strategy
• Before 2006: Prevent entry from VT
• 2006-2009: Control and Elimination
Virginie
• Since 2010: Prevent entry (VT / NY)
Current Raccoon Rabies control Program
Main goals :
•
Prevent entry in Québec
•
Quick detection of rabies cases in Québec
•
If reintroduction is confirmed: prevent spreading
towards highly populated areas (Montreal and
surrouding cities)
•
Collaborate with neighboring jurisdictions to
reach our common goals:
• push south the northeastern epidemic front
• raccoon rabies elimination
5
Current Raccoon Rabies control Program
Components of the program :
Enhanced surveillance
Research
6
Control (ORV)
Communication
Enhanced Surveillance
Goals :
•
•
•
Detect quickly any cases in Quebec
In case of introduction, follow evolution of rabies spreading in Quebec
If needed: quick interventions for a more efficient and less expensive control
11 300 km2
Montreal
ON
NY
VT
NH
Enhanced Surveillance
How?
•
Started in 2007, done by wildlife technicians
•
Targerted species : raccoon, skunk, fox
•
3 sources:
•
•
Citizens reports: strange acting animals or dead
•
Road kills
•
Human / animal exposures (from Health Dep.)
800-1000 dRIT/year
Advantages
Low cost
Easy to cover a large area
Best way to find rabid animals
8
Control : Oral rabies vaccination (ORV)
Goals :
•
•
•
Immunized raccoons (human health protection)
Create and maintain a immunitary barrier
If rabies comes back: prevent spreading of the disease
Advantages
Lots of animals vaccinated in a short period of time
Less expensive than other methods (TVR or reduction)
Control: ORV
How ?
• Raccoons Immunization: Use of ONRAB only
• Keep an appropriate immunization level
• 65% in high risk zones
• 50% in moderate risk zones
• Targeted vaccines distribution
• Habitat quality
• Raccoon density
• Right timing (early spring, late summer)
10
Control: ORV
Aerial baiting (plane)
•Density (75/100/125 baits/km²) based on
habitat quality
• Drop baits only in raccoon habitat
• Large culture field: target 100 ft edges only
11
Control: ORV
Ground hand baiting:
- Target raccoon + skunk prime habitats
(60-100 baits/km²)
- Where aerial off time is over 65%
- Deep valleys (ports of entry)
- Experienced trappers
12
Applied Research
Goals:
•
Evaluate efficiency of control operations (raccoon
immunity) – Post ORV monitoring
•
Determine raccoon densities / high risk zones
•
Assess habitat use by raccoons and skunks
Advantages
Improve our methods
« Doing more with less »
13
Applied Research
Main results that contributed in defining our control operations:
• Modeling rabies spread
Best vaccination barrier (50 km width
and 60% raccoons immunized)
• Population age structure : youngs of the
year represent 45 % of raccoon population
Need to conduct ORV every year
• Raccoons and skunks movements and
habitat use
Target baits distribution in forest
patches and along edges
• Delineation of areas with high raccoons
density
Bait density ajusted to raccoon
density
14
A control less expensive, efficient and optimal
Cost of Raccoon Rabies control Program in Québec - 2008-2015
3 500 000,00 $
Why?
3 000 000,00 $
- Important budget diminution
(↓1M$ over 8 years )
2 500 000,00 $
- More efficient baits distribution
techniques
2 000 000,00 $
- Bottom line of optimization
reached
1 500 000,00 $
1 000 000,00 $
2015-2016
500 000,00 $
Control: 1,6 M$ CAN
0,00 $
2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016
Contrôle (FA)
15
Surveillance (FA)
Salaires (estimé)
Surveillance: 150 k$ CAN
Economic aspect of Rabies Control Program in QC
Socio-economic benefits
• Major economy :
WITHOUT control program
If rabies reaches Montréal area
4,93 M$ to 5,59 M$
For the first year
•
Prevention = 3,5M$ yearly savings
•
Protection of Québec population
VS.
WITH control program
1,6 M$ / year
Avoid entry of rabies in Montreal area (1 800 000 inhabitants) and Montreal South
shore (600 000 inhabitants)
Current situation
Last positives
 6 years « Rabies Free « (April 2015)
 But… Franklin outbreak: Threath of reintroduction
Surveillance
 Based on Enhanced Surveillance Program
 Confidence level = VERY HIGH
Control: Vaccination program (ORV)
 Techniques have been improved: Distribution adjusted on
raccoon and skunk densities
 Data on behaviour patterns : targeted baits distribution
Raccoon rabies in the northeast
•
•
•
•
Rabies cases in 2014 - 44 close to border (< 80 km)
250 km of border with VT et NY
No natural barriers
Many ports of entry
Need to stay vigilant!
2014 Enhanced surveillance
721 specimens
--578 raccoons
113 skunks
25 foxes
--441 road kills
240 reported by
citizens
19
2014 ORV Plan
50 km
20
Recommandations for 2015 ORV
Considering the current situation in the US:
• Recent Franklin outbreak, March 2015: 7 cases (< 5 km of the border)
• Level of enhanced surveillance (comparing with QC)
• Use of ONRAB: field trials, licensing in process
Same ORV plan than 2014
+
Specific actions in reaction of Franklin outbreak
• Increase the spring baiting zone: from 200 to 350 km2
• Higher bait density: from 60 to 100 baits/km2
Enhanced surveillance: more effort near Franklin
outbreak (NY)
21
2015 ORV plan
50 km
Spring ORV - Hand baiting (starting today)
Extend area
Increase ONRAB density
Enhanced surveillance - So far in 2015…
Montreal
ON
NY
VT
As April 9, 2015:
- 28 specimens collected: 7 roadkills, 21 reported by citizens
- NO positives
NH
Rabies Control Program - Essential components
• Enhanced Surveillance and communication are fundamental
– Detect quickly positive cases
– React quickly: Apply efficient control
– Follow the evolution (effect of control, public collaboration)
• Efficient control is necessary
– Less expensive to prevent…
• Collaboration with the US is crucial to reach our common goal:
push south the northern front… towards rabies elimination!
– Based on ONRAB use: Improve control with a more efficient vaccine
– Establish a joint multi years strategy with US… and Ontario
– Collaborative surveillance and control program
– Planning and implementing joint actions
Thanks!
Questions ?