The Ohio Department of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services program will begin fall oral rabies vaccination operations this weekend.

Officials say actual baiting will begin Sunday and will cover 4,473 square miles of the state's northeastern and eastern border. Bait distribution should be completed by Tuesday.

The Department of Health says rabies is a viral disease that affects mammals, including people. It is almost always fatal. Oral rabies vaccine baiting operations are intended to immunize raccoons that are at greatest risk of being exposed to raccoon rabies coming into the state. This will then create an "immune barrier" along the Ohio state line that can prevent the spread of raccoon rabies variant (RRV) into the rest of the state.

As in past years, the oral rabies vaccine RABORAL V-RG® will be distributed along with the new oral rabies vaccine under field evaluation, called ONRAB.

The Department of Agriculture says baits will be distributed by various methods in each county, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter, and vehicles staffed by USDA. Residents in the areas to be baited should be aware of low-flying aircraft and should keep children and pets away from the baits. Dogs are attracted to the baits and will occasionally eat them. The baits are not harmful to pets.

The Department has given the public information to keep in mind:

  • Know what the baits look like.
  • The coated sachet, which will be distributed by aircraft (fixed wing and helicopter), is about the size of a ketchup packet. It is white and rolled in a brown fishmeal glaze.
  • The hard, brown fishmeal block, which will be distributed by a vehicle in urban areas, is about 2 by 2 inches with the sachet inside the block. 
  • The ONRAB blister pack, which will be distributed by fixed-wing aircraft in rural areas and by helicopter and vehicle in urban and suburban areas, is 1 by 2 inches with a dark green and sweet smelling waxy coating. 
  • Instruct children to leave the baits alone.
  • The baits are not harmful to pets. Once your area is baited, keep dogs and cats inside or on leashes for up to five days. Most baits disappear within 24 hours; however, it is important for raccoons and other wildlife have every opportunity to eat them.
  • Do not attempt to take baits away from your pet; you may be bitten.
  • Anyone handling baits should wear gloves. If baits are found in areas frequented by pets or children, toss them into deeper cover. Damaged baits can be disposed of in the trash.
  • If a person is exposed to the vaccine (liquid) within the bait, thoroughly wash any areas of the skin that came into contact with the vaccine with soap and water.
  • If someone has been exposed to the vaccine or has questions about the baiting, call the ORV Information Line at 888.RABIES1 (722-4371) or your local health department. 

The Department of Agriculture says the rabies virus is found in the saliva of infected animals, most often raccoons, skunks and bats, and is spread when saliva from an infected animal gets into a wound or mucous membrane (such as the eye or mouth). Animal bites are the most common route of exposure. Bats, raccoons and skunks pose the greatest risk of rabies in Ohio. To protect your family against this still-deadly disease:

  • Avoid contact with wild animals and animals you do not know.
  • Vaccinate your pets against rabies and keep them current on their shots.
  • If bitten, call your doctor. If your pet has contact with a wild animal, call your veterinarian.
  • Potential rabies exposures should also be reported to your local health department.