WARREN, Ohio -  Because of recent rabies cases reported in Trumbull County, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and the Ohio Department of Health will begin distributing vaccine baits in parts of the Valley next week.

Last month, the City of Warren reported two rabies-positive raccoons.  As a result, increased surveillance and continued baiting in Trumbull and Mahoning Counties are underway. 

The baiting will use an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) bait, called RABORAL V-RG®, which consists of a small bait packet filled with the vaccine and coated with fishmeal.

The targeted ORV bait distribution will begin in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties around Tuesday, October 12, 2021.  and continue for approximately one week.

Residents of the City of Warren and surrounding communities may see a low-flying helicopter dropping the baits, or ground baiting teams in vehicles distributing the baits by hand.

The effort will distribute approximately 39,600 ORV baits by helicopter and 5,400 ORV baits by hand.

The ORV bait has been shown to be safe in many species of animals, including domestic dogs and cats, according to the USDA.

Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the baits but are asked to leave them undisturbed should they encounter them. If contact with baits occurs, immediately rinse the contact area with warm water and soap.

The USDA seeks the public’s help to determine the frequency of rabies in eastern Ohio by reporting encounters with raccoons that are acting sick or behaving in an unusual manner.

The public in these areas is asked to report any dead raccoons, including those struck by vehicles, or live raccoons acting in an unusual way.

Signs suggestive of rabies include unusual, aggressive, calm, and “friendly” behavior, an inability to eat or drink, balance problems, circling, seizures, coma and finally death.

While seeing raccoons during the day in towns and suburbs is not unusual, any raccoon that appears to be friendly, unafraid, or sick (staggering, unsteady or aggressive) should be reported to 330-726-3386 or to your local county health department.

USDA biologists or specialists will respond and remove the animal or carcass to test it for rabies.