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USDA to airdrop millions of rabies vaccine doses over these states
12onyourside.com • • health
Key Points:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is conducting an annual rabies vaccination program in the Southeast by distributing millions of fishmeal-coated vaccine baits to wildlife via airplane, helicopter, and vehicles.
- In October, four projects will distribute oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits across parts of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, with each project distributing between 415,000 and 712,000 baits.
- The vaccine baits are safe for domestic pets, though dogs consuming multiple baits may experience temporary stomach upset without long-term health risks; the public is advised to leave the baits undisturbed.
- South Carolina, despite reporting dozens of raccoon rabies cases annually, is not included in this year's distribution program, with no specific explanation provided in the USDA statement.
