Wildlife Services' Oral Rabies Vaccine Bait Program HD

Wildlife Services Deputy Administrator Bill Clay and Jordona Kirby, field coordinator for the National Rabies Management Program, explain the oral rabies vaccine bait program administered by wildlife biologists and technicians from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services program. APHIS distributes baits each fall in select areas in the eastern United States to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies. The baits are distributed in rural areas by airplane and in suburban or urban areas by helicopter or vehicle. RABORAL V-RG(r) oral rabies vaccine baits are coated with a fishmeal attractant and may be packaged in one-inch square cubes or two-inch plastic sachets. The RABORAL V-RG(r) vaccine has been shown to be safe in more than 60 different species of animals, including domestic dogs and cats. Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the baits, but are asked to leave them undisturbed if they encounter them. Dogs that consume large numbers of baits may experience an upset stomach, but no long-term health risks. If contact with baits occurs, immediately rinse the contact area with warm water and soap. Rabies is caused by a virus that infects the central nervous system in mammals. Signs suggestive of rabies include unusual, aggressive or calm and "friendly" behavior, an inability to eat or drink, balance problems, circling, seizures, coma and finally death. While rabies is fatal once symptoms occur, human exposures can be successfully treated if post-exposure follow up is sought immediately following a bite. Since 1995, Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program has been working cooperatively with local, state and federal governments, universities and other partners to address this public health problem by distributing oral rabies vaccination baits in targeted areas. This cooperative program targets the raccoon variant in the eastern United States, and unique variants of rabies in coyotes and foxes in Texas. For additional information on the raccoon oral rabies vaccine program, please visit the APHIS website or call 1-866-4-USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297).