Brienne German (301) 734-7253
Jim Rogers (202) 690-4755
USDA DISTRIBUTES ORAL RABIES VACCINE ACROSS APPALACHIAN STATES
RIVERDALE, Md., Aug. 1, 2006--Wildlife Services, a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will distribute oral rabies vaccine baits beginning on, or about Aug. 8, to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies in portions of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
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 two-week program will target raccoons and result in the distribution of approximately 4.3 million baits covering roughly 20,535 total square miles across five states.
This season, WS is shifting the Appalachian Ridge vaccination zone 5 miles east in Virginia and West Virginia based on the drop in rabies cases west of the zone. By strategically shifting the targeted area, WS is working toward reducing and eliminating rabies in these states. Enhanced surveillance in this area helped confirm that WS and cooperator efforts are working to keep the raccoon variant of rabies from spreading westward.
Since 1997, USDA has been cooperating with local, state and federal agencies 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 coordinated by WS: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.
Baits are made of fishmeal polymer and are packaged in one-inch square cubes surrounding a sachet containing the vaccine or two-inch plastic sachets coated with fishmeal crumbs. Humans and pets cannot get rabies from coming into contact with the baits. Should you encounter a bait, please leave it undisturbed. This vaccine has been shown to be safe in more than 60 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 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/rabies/index.html or contact USDA’s WS toll free at 1–866–4–USDA–WS (1–866–487–3297).
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