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In the coming week, Ohio plans to drop nearly a million doses of vaccine in 14 countries to vaccinate the state's raccoon population against rabies.
The Ohio Department of Health, in partnership with the Animal and Plant Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, will launch approximately 800,000 vaccine baits over 4,825 square miles to create an "immune barrier" along the border.
Health officials said the baits were small blister packs filled with vaccine and covered with a green waxy coatings.
The baits will be dropped by air and helicopter and distributed by ground crews starting August 23rd. Residents must be informed of low flying aircraft.
The baits will be placed in the following counties:
- Ashtabula
- Belmont
- Carroll
- Columbiana
- Geauga
- Harrison
- Jefferson
- Lake
- Mahoning
- Monroe
- porterage
- Rigid
- Trumbull
- Tuscarawas
Even though baits have been proven, with the exception of dogs and cats, residents of these counties are advised to keep children and pets away from bait.
Anyone who comes into contact with the bait should wash the contact area with soap and water.
State officials advise that:
- Have the children leave the bait alone.
- Bait is not harmful to pets. However, it is recommended to keep dogs and cats inside or on leash until five days after setting up a bait in order to give raccoons and other wild animals the opportunity to eat them. Most baits disappear within 24 hours.
- Do not attempt to remove the bait from your pet's mouth to avoid any risk of injury.
- Anyone handling bait should wear gloves. If bait is found in areas frequented by pets or children, throw them in a deeper plant cover. Damaged baits may be thrown in the trash.
- If a person is exposed to the liquid vaccine contained in the bait, wash the exposed skin thoroughly with soap and lukewarm water.
- Anyone who has questions about baiting can call the bait information line for oral anti-rabies vaccination at (888) 574-6656 or call the health department in your area.
According to the ODH, the rabies virus is found in the saliva of an animal infected with this virus. The virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks and bats. In 2018, it was found that 12 animals had been infected with the rabies virus, which varies from raccoon. This year, two raccoon cases have been confirmed in Ashtabula and Tuscarawas counties.
More information can be found,
right here.
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