Raccoon Rabies Vaccination Baiting Slated For Aug 30-Sept 30

Rabies is a viral disease that affects mammals and people. It is almost always fatal. Since the mid-1970s, a strain of rabies associated with raccoons has spread rapidly through the eastern United States. Fall vaccine baiting operations are intended to help curb the spread of raccoon-strain rabies (RSR) west of an immune barrier established by regular rabies vaccination that began in 1997. In July 2004, RSR was identified west of the barrier in Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties. This immune barrier has successfully slowed the spread of rabies into Ohio from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. As of Aug. 27, 2007, four rabid raccoons were confirmed positive from Cuyahoga and Lake counties for RSR, down from 10 rabid raccoons identified in 2006.

“ODH and its partners are committed to controlling raccoon-strain rabies in Ohio,” said ODH Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D. “These baiting operations are a key component in establishing that control.”

Weather permitting, the northern portion of the Appalachian Ridge Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) baiting will begin Aug. 31, and will cover 4,682 square miles of the state’s northeastern and eastern border. Aerial distribution should be complete within seven days; ground baiting may continue through Sept. 30.

As in past years, vaccine-bait distribution will take place in Ashtabula, Columbiana, Jefferson, Mahoning and Trumbull counties and parts of Belmont, Carroll, Harrison and Monroe counties. Baiting teams will also operate in Geauga and Lake counties, plus parts of Cuyahoga, Portage and Summit counties.

Residents in the areas to be baited should be aware of low-flying aircraft and should keep children and pets away from the baits.

The first World Rabies Day will take place during the operation, Sept. 8. The goal is to engage at least 55,000 people across the world to take action on this day - one person participating for every human victim of rabies who died needlessly during the year. This is a day to inform and educate people about the reality of rabies.

“The best way to prevent the spread of rabies is to vaccinate your pets,” Jackson said.
Ohio’s partners in the multistate baiting are Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, in what is known as the Appalachian Ridge ORV program. The seven-state effort will involve distribution of about 5 million baits and cover more than 26,000 square miles. ODH has participated in the program since 1997 and has dropped more than 9.7 million baits in that time.

Two types of baits will be used. Airplanes will drop a small plastic sachet, about the size of a ketchup packet, coated in fishmeal. In urban areas, the vaccine will be inside a hard, brown 2-x-2-inch fishmeal block which will be distributed by vehicles staffed by local health departments and other local agency volunteers. Most of
the 768,798 baits will be distributed by air, with the use of specially equipped planes from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and a helicopter from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Residents should avoid the baits and keep pets confined during the baiting period. Dogs in particular are attracted to the baits and will occasionally eat them. The baits are not harmful to pets. Please keep the following information in mind:

• Know what the baits look like. The coated sachet, which will be distributed by aircraft, is about the size of a ketchup packet. It is white and rolled in a brown fishmeal glaze. In urban areas, where baits will be distributed by vehicle, the sachet will be inside a hard, brown fishmeal block, about 2-x-2-inch square.

• Instruct children to leave the baits alone.

• Once your area is baited, keep dogs and cats inside or on leashes for up to five days. Most baits disappear within 24 hours; however, it is important raccoons have every opportunity to eat them.

• Do not attempt to take bait away from your pet; you may be bitten.

• Anyone handling baits should wear gloves. If baits are found in areas frequented by pets or children, toss them into deeper cover. Damaged baits can be disposed of in the trash.

• If a person is exposed to the vaccine (red liquid), thoroughly wash any areas of the skin that came into contact with the vaccine with soap and water.

• If someone has been exposed to the vaccine or has questions about the baiting, call the local health department or ODH’s information line at 1-888-722-4371.

The rabies virus is found in the saliva of affected animals, most often raccoons, skunks and bats, and is spread by a bite or scratch. Bats, raccoons and skunks pose the greatest risk of rabies in Ohio. To protect your family against this still-deadly disease:

• Avoid contact with wild animals and animals you do not know.

• Vaccinate your pets against rabies and keep them current on their shots.

• If bitten, call your doctor. If your pet has contact with a wild animal, call your veterinarian. Rabies exposures should also be reported to your local health department.-Ohio departments of Health