Aircrafts will be used in Ohio to distribute oral rabies vaccines for wildlife

OHIO — The Ohio Department of Health announced that beginning July, 29 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and several Ohio local health departments (LHDs) will begin distributing an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) by ground and aircraft to immunize wild raccoons in targeted cities and counties.

Officials say baiting will occur in Ashtabula, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Geauga, Jefferson, Harrison, Lake, Mahoning, Portage, and Trumbull counties as well as the cities of Ashtabula, Boardman, Conneaut, East Palestine, Geneva, Hubbard, Lisbon, Poland, Struthers, Youngstown, and Warren.

Contingent on good weather, the operation should be completed by August 21, 2024.

Officials say that although chances of human or pet exposure is remote, the public should be familiar with the product and possible side affects in the event of exposure.

The ONRAB rabies vaccine is contained in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blister pack, covered in a waxy green coating containing vegetable fats and wax and a sugar vanilla attractant, and does not contain a live rabies virus.

Officials say that most people are immune the virus that will be distributed, but pregnant or immunocompromised individuals may be susceptible to infection (cold-like infection) if the vaccine is introduced into a wound, eye or ingested.

Exposure may result in fever, sore throat, headache, or conjunctivitis.

Pets consuming numerous baits may experience vomiting or diarrhea that is self-limiting.

Officials say there is no exposure risk when handling a bait that is still intact. As a precaution, always recommend that people wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling any rabies vaccine bait.

Below are some additional recommendations for individuals finding ORV baits:

• Do not attempt to remove an ORV bait from an animal’s mouth, as you could be bitten. Ingesting the vaccine will not harm your pet. Vomiting from the waxy sachets and diarrhea from the coating of the vaccine have occurred in dogs that have ingested multiple baits.
• It is best to leave baits alone unless found in your lawn, driveway, or other area where a child or pet might find it. If found in one of these locations, confine your pet and look for other baits in the area. The baits can be moved to another location that is less accessible to people or pets or can be placed in a Ziploc bag and thrown away.
• Wear gloves or use a paper towel when you pick up a bait. Although there is no harm in touching an undamaged bait, using these precautions will protect against an unknown exposure to the vaccine. Gloves or a paper towel will protect your hands if you have any small cuts.
• If the blister packet containing the vaccine breaks, the liquid vaccine should be visible. Wash your hands and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water.
• Advise people who had vaccine exposure to their skin, mucous membrane, or eyes to seek medical attention if they experience any rash, fever, sore throat, headache, conjunctivitis, vomiting, or diarrhea within 21 days of the exposure.

If you or your pet should come in contact with with the bait/vaccine, contact the ODH at 1-888-574-6656 or 614-752-1387.

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