National Rabies Vaccine Bait Drop in Oswego County Aug. 1-5

OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego County Health Department works with the Wildlife Services Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute oral rabies vaccine baits for wildlife across a large portion of the county.

Distribution is tentatively planned to take place between 8 a.m. and sunset daily Friday, Aug. 1 through Tuesday, Aug. 5, weather permitting. Rabies vaccine bait packets will be distributed by air with low-flying aircraft and by hand in more specific areas.

Each bait consists of a blister packet which contains the vaccine and is coated with a sweet attractant to appeal to wild animals. Wildlife – primarily raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes – will eat the bait and become vaccinated against rabies, which will help stop the spread of the disease.

“Any mammal can be infected by rabies, and the virus is nearly always fatal if left untreated,” said Oswego County Director of Environmental Health Katelyn Parkhurst. “Rabies is a serious public health concern, and it’s important to remember that it remains active year-round.

“According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wild animals account for nearly 90% of the reported rabies cases in the U.S.,” she added. “Immunizing wildlife will help decrease the exposure of humans and domestic animals to the rabies virus.”

Although the vaccine is not harmful to pets or people, the bait packets should not be disturbed.

Residents are asked to follow these steps if they come across a bait packet:

• Instruct children to leave the bait packs alone and watch pets to make sure they avoid them as well.
• If an intact bait is found in an area frequented by children or pets, wear a glove or use a paper towel to pick it up and move it to a bushy or wooded area.
• If a bait is found broken and the liquid vaccine is visible, wear a glove or use a paper towel to pick it up and put it in a plastic bag. Cover the bait with a 1:10 bleach solution (one cup of bleach to nine cups of water) and wipe down affected areas with bleach. Place cleaning materials in the bag and dispose of it in the regular trash.
• If you find your pet eating a bait packet, do not attempt to remove it from the animal’s mouth and risk being bitten or touching the bait. The bait will not harm your pet.
• Should your pet consume numerous baits, it may develop an upset stomach. If your pet ingests a bait, avoid getting its saliva into your eyes, mucous membranes or on skin lesions for 24 hours.
• Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after any contact with the bait. For further guidance, call the phone number listed on the bait or call the Oswego County Health Department at 315-349-3564.

Oswego County Public Health Director Vera Dunsmoor thanked the county’s Environmental Health team for their partnership with the USDA and the work they have done on tracing rabies in wild animals. “The data they accumulated provided evidence that brought this federal program to Oswego County,” she said.

For more information or to report contact with a bait packet, call the Oswego County Health Department at 315-349-3564.

For more information about the oral rabies vaccine program, call the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services office at 1-866-4 USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297) or go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife-damage/rabies.

Print this entry