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Eight people are receiving rabies shots after the fatal disease was confirmed in a Regina dog.

“At this point in time there are eight, but our investigation always continues to make sure we have everybody that we can identify that potentially have had interaction,” said Dr. Maurice Hennink, deputy medical officer in Regina for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “We always err on the side of caution.”

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Neither the dog’s owners nor others had been bit by the dog, Hennink said.

“The exposure is through licking and interaction with the animal,” he said. “The saliva, in the last 10 days of the illness, is infectious potentially and we’re never sure if there’s cuts or bruises and scrapes where the virus could be transmitted, so to be safe, we provide the preventative vaccine.”

On Monday a dog brought to 24 Hour Animal Care Centre in east Regina showed signs of being infected with rabies. It had spent an extended period of time in a rural area between Regina and Weyburn.