Oral rabies vaccine baits to be distributed in Mahoning Valley

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

To prevent the spread of raccoon rabies across the state, the Ohio Departments of Health and Natural Resources will distribute oral rabies vaccine baits across 14 Northeast and eastern Ohio counties between now and Friday.

The Mahoning County District Board of Health and the Youngstown City Health District, with the help of the Mahoning- Columbiana Medical Reserve Corps, will distribute the baits Wednesday through Friday across Mahoning County.

Operations may be extended due to weather conditions if necessary.

Baits will be distributed by fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter and vehicles staffed by USDA and staff from the local health departments.

Mahoning residents should be aware of low-flying aircraft and should keep children and pets away from the baits.

Dogs in particular are attracted to the baits and will occasionally eat them. The baits are not harmful to pets.

To keep children and pets safe, officials suggest the following safety precautions:

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 fish meal 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. Photos of the baits can be found on the Ohio Departments of Health website.

Instruct children to not touch the baits.

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 that 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 (liquid), thoroughly wash any areas of the skin that were exposed to the vaccine with soap and water.

If someone has been exposed to the vaccine or has questions about the baiting, call the ORV Information line at 614-752-1387 or the Mahoning County District Board of Health at 330-270-2855.

During 2011, 13 cases of raccoon-rabies virus were confirmed in Ohio, including eight skunks from Lake County, three raccoons from Ashtabula, one raccoon from Trumbull County, and one dog from Summit County.

The baiting is being done in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Wildlife Services program.