The City of Pincourt confirms that the distemper virus is present on its territory.
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This fall, the Town of Pincourt noticed the presence of deceased skunks on its territory. According to a necropsy report from the Canadian Wildlife Health Network, the cause of death is indeed the distemper.
Macroscopic and histological examination of the tissues and molecular analyzes (PCR), performed on a deceased striped skunk, confirmed the presence of distemper virus infection. This infection would explain the death of the animal.
Distemper is a highly contagious disease commonly seen in striped skunks and raccoons in Quebec and Ontario. Although it can cause epidemics with a high death rate, the disease does not appear to have an impact on populations in the long term. This virus can also affect domestic dogs. It is therefore essential to vaccinate them against this disease.
Due to the very frequent presence of this virus in wild populations, some species of which live near humans, it is strongly recommended that all domestic dogs be vaccinated on a regular basis. In the event of a bite or contact between a pet and a wild animal suspected of having distemper, contact your veterinarian.
For more information on distemper, please consult the disease information sheet, available on the website of the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks.
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