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Brienne German (301) 734-7253
Jim Rogers (202) 690-4755
USDA DISTRIBUTES ORAL RABIES VACCINE IN FOUR STATES
RIVERDALE, Md., Aug. 22, 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 in cooperation with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Cornell Universitybeginning on or about Aug. 22, to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies in portions of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.
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 vehicles. The projected two-week aerial portion of the program will target raccoons and result in the distribution of more than 1.2 million baits covering roughly 9,675total square miles in four states.
The vaccination zone has been established to prevent the northward movement of the raccoon variant of rabies into Canada . The zone is reinforced utilizing natural barriers such as the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River . Canada has a similar program in place vaccinating raccoons and foxes.
Since 1997, USDA has been cooperating with local, state and federal agencies and Canada 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 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 in mammals. Symptoms include unusual, aggressive or calm and “friendly” behavior, an inability to eat or drink, balance problems, circling, seizures, coma and finally death. Human exposures can be successfully treated if treatment is sought immediately following a bite.
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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