The Department of Agriculture this week announced that the annual oral rabies vaccination baiting program, which helps control rabies in wild animals, will begin on August 7.

The operation will cover all or parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Wildlife rabies accounts for almost 93 percent of the reported rabies cases in the U.S., and raccoons account for more than 50 percent of this total. Although the primary focus is to vaccinate raccoons, other animals such as dogs, cats, cattle, horses, skunks and foxes also benefit from the program.

Starting August 7, trained employees will spread bait sachets to densely populated areas by hand. On Sept. 5, low-flying aircraft will drop sachets in sparsely populated areas. The vaccine sachet is placed inside fishmeal bait, or coated with a flavored substance. When the raccoon punctures the sealed plastic package, the vaccine is released into its mouth.

The vaccine contains only a small, non-infective portion of the rabies virus that cannot cause rabies. The bait does not pose an immediate health risk to humans or pets, but anyone finding the baits should avoid handling them unless they are found where children or pets play. Baits can be moved or disposed of with gloves or a paper towel if they are found in these areas.

Six agencies - the state departments of Agriculture and Health, the Game Commission, Erie County Health Department, Allegheny County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control – are collaborating with USDA's Wildlife Services for this program.

For more information about the ORV baiting program, contact one of the

following agencies; USDA Wildlife Services 1-866-487-3297, Department of Agriculture 717-783-9550, Department of Health Information Line 1-877-PA-HEALTH, Erie County Department of Health1-814-451-6700 or Allegheny County Department of Health 412-687-2243.

8/4/2006