Rabies-baiting begins in Mahoning

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County District Board of Health and Youngstown City Health District oral rabies vaccination ground operations are under way.

The state departments of health and natural resources, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local health departments, began fall oral rabies vaccinations in August in 14 northeast and eastern Ohio counties.

Ground operations began Wednesday in Mahoning County.

The public can help prevent “the spread of the raccoon rabies variant by avoiding the baits and working with your veterinarian to vaccinate your pets,” said Matthew Stefanak, Mahoning County health commissioner.

Vaccine-bait distribution will take place in all of Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Jefferson, Lake, Mahoning and Trumbull counties and parts of Belmont, Carroll, Cuyahoga, Harrison, Monroe, Portage, and Summit counties.

Baits will be distributed by various methods in each county, including fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter.

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