Lambton Public Health is urging residents to keep pet vaccinations up to date after reporting the first cases of rabies in local animals in several years and investigating two recent dog bites in Sarnia.
Three cases of rabies were identified in bats within Lambton County in 2025. These were the first confirmed animal cases in the area since 2021. Since 2013, nine animals have tested positive for rabies in the county, and all of them were bats.
Following the re-emergence of the virus in animals, Lambton Public Health conducted 369 rabies investigations in 2025. During that time, 69 people received post-exposure rabies shots, which is the highest number of such treatments in the area in at least seven years. While no human cases of rabies have been reported in Lambton County, provincial officials noted that a human case occurred in northern Ontario in September 2024, which was the first in the province since 1967.
Most recently, health officials have been seeking information regarding the health status of two dogs involved in separate bite incidents in Sarnia on March 30 and March 31, 2026. Because rabies is a viral infection that can be fatal without immediate medical treatment, authorities emphasize the importance of prevention.
Under provincial rules, all cats and dogs over the age of three months must be vaccinated against rabies. To help residents comply, multiple low-cost vaccination clinics are available across Lambton County in April. This includes a clinic taking place on April 13 at the Sarnia Humane Society.
