Press Releases

Daniel Parry	(301) 734-3255
Jim Rogers	(202) 690-4755

USDA DISTRIBUTES ORAL RABIES VACCINE ACROSS MID-ATLANTIC STATES

RIVERDALE, Md., July 28, 2005–The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s wildlife services program will distribute oral rabies vaccine baits beginning on, or about, Aug. 8, to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies in portions of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. Baiting will also include portions of western North Carolina to prevent the spread of rabies through mountain valleys into Tennessee.

Baits containing oral rabies vaccine will be distributed over rural areas using low-flying twin engine aircraft and hand baiting will occur in populated regions using ground-based vehicles. The projected three-week program will result in the distribution of approximately two million baits covering roughly 14,450 total square miles in five states.

Since 1997, USDA has been working to establish a rabies-free barrier in the eastern United States where the raccoon strain of rabies threatens wildlife populations and pets, as well as public health and safety. The following states have been part of a cooperative effort in the program coordinated by USDA’s WS: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

This season, portions of five North Carolina counties including: Mitchell, Yancey, Buncombe, Madison and Haywood, will further enhance existing barriers through the distribution of nearly 150,000 baits.

Baits are coated with a fish meal attractant and may be packaged in one-inch square cubes or two-inch plastic sachets. Humans and pets cannot get rabies from coming into contact with the baits but are asked to leave the baits undisturbed should they encounter them. This vaccine has been shown to be safe in more than 50 different species of animals, including domestic dogs and cats. Dogs that consume large numbers of baits may experience an upset stomach, but there are no long-term health risks. Most sightings of rabid raccoons occur during the spring and summer when people are more likely to come into contact with wildlife. Raccoon rabies is caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms include unusual, aggressive or calm and friendly behavior, an inability to eat or drink, balance problems, circling, seizures, coma and finally death.

For additional information concerning the raccoon oral rabies vaccine program, please visit www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/rabies or contact USDA’s wildlife services toll free at 1 866 4 USDA WS (1 866 487 3297).

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