Turns out it's not rabies but distemper that might be spreading amongst raccoons in Toronto.
In a tweet Sunday, Toronto police confirmed they received a call about a man who was reportedly bitten by a raccoon that chased him. The man believed the raccoon was rabid, but that was not confirmed.
In another tweet, police pointed to a possible virus spreading in the south end of the city and advised the community to be cautious.
Toronto Animal Services told CP24 Sunday that the virus in question is distemper, not rabies.
According to Nicola Ware of Toronto Animal Services, distemper is a virus that causes unusual or atypical behaviour in raccoons. Dogs and skunks are also susceptible to the virus, but most dogs are vaccinated against the virus at the vet.
Ware added Toronto Animal Services routinely tests dead raccoons for rabies and no recent tests have come back positive.
However animals who have distemper are sometimes mistaken for being rabid because the neurological effects of the disease can cause animals to behave strangely.
According to the Toronto Wildlife Centre’s website, early symptoms of distemper can include fever, vomiting and diarrhea, and extreme thirst.
In the later stages of the disease, neurological damage can cause animals to wander aimlessly, appear sleepy or drunk, and to approach people without aggression. Animals may also have seizures, as well as a green discharge from the eyes or nose.
While distemper can be fatal to raccoons, it poses no risk to humans.
with files from CP24