2 more rabies cases found in Hamilton, total now at 12

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry released a map with the two new discoveries. That image can be found below.

Two more cases of raccoon rabies have been found in Hamilton, bringing the city's total up to 12 discoveries.

The cases, according to the city of Hamilton's rabies page, were discovered in Glanbrook and Ancaster on Tuesday. Their discovery does not indicate that the virus is moving or has spread, said the province.

The discoveries, just half of a kilometer away from the other discoveries in Hamilton, fall under the original baiting zones established by the province. Here's an updated map of the 12 discoveries in Hamilton, and the baiting and monitoring zones in Southern Ontario:

No further baiting will be required, since raccoons have gone to their den for the winter and are unlikely to eat the bait, said Chris Davies, manager of wildlife research in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

• READ MORE: 4 more cases of raccoon rabies found in Hamilton, baiting plans unchanged
• READ MORE: Province dropping rabies vaccine from the sky above Hamilton

Last week's cold weather pushed the raccoons into their den, said Davies, and fewer animals have been spotted out and about as a result. But any future warm periods could lead to raccoons leaving their dens, said Davies. 

Still, the province will not drop any more bait until the spring, said Davies. The province has dropped just under 220,000, but has not dropped any additional baits since four cases of the virus were discovered back on Dec. 22. .