Brienne Lang (301) 734-7253
Andrea McNally (301) 734-5175
USDA DISTRIBUTES ORAL RABIES VACCINE IN NEW YORK
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2009--Wildlife Services (WS), 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 August 28 to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies in portions of western and northern New York.
In cooperation with the New York State Department of Health and key agencies, 845,200 oral rabies vaccination (ORV) baits targeting raccoons will be distributed by several methods over a 5,180 square mile area. Over the next two weeks, personnel from WS and its cooperators, along with volunteers, will be hand baiting populated areas by vehicle. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters will assist with the distribution of ORV baits over more rural areas.
ORV baits are coated with a fishmeal attractant and may be packaged in one-inch square cubes or two-inch plastic sachets. Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the baits, but are asked to leave them undisturbed should they encounter them. This vaccine has been shown to be safe in more than 60 different species of animals, including domestic dogs and cats.
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. Signs include unusual, aggressive or calm and “friendly” behavior, an inability to eat or drink, balance problems, circling, seizures, coma and finally death. While rabies is fatal, human exposures can be successfully treated, if treatment is sought immediately following a bite.
Since 1997, WS has been working to establish a rabies-free barrier in the eastern United States where the raccoon variant of rabies is known to exist. In addition to this work in New York, WS has coordinated cooperative rabies control efforts in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.
For additional information concerning the raccoon oral rabies vaccine program, please visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/rabies.shtml or contact WS toll free at 1–866–4–USDA–WS (1–866–487–3297).
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