In May 1996 a single rabid raccoon was confirmed in Mahoning County. This case represented the westward extension into Ohio of the Mid-Atlantic/Northeastern USA raccoon strain rabies outbreak, which had been present at the Pennsylvania-Ohio border for approximately one year. In response, rabies surveillance was temporarily increased in the immediate vicinity, with no confirmation of additional cases. A total of 132 animals were tested for rabies in Mahoning County during 1996, however, the majority of these were dogs and cats, rather than the rabies vector species - the raccoon. Nearly one year later, the confirmation of rabies in a raccoon in March 1997 once again heightened the awareness of rabies in the area, with subsequent identification of 15 more rabid raccoons over the next seven weeks. As best defined at present, the front line of raccoon rabies is currently located all within Mahoning County with confirmed cases occurring in the Townships of Poland, Boardman, Beaver, Coitsville and Canfield as well as the southeast edge of Youngstown City. As of May 7, 1997 twenty-one confirmed cases of rabies have been identified in Mahoning County.
In response to this outbreak, on April 16, 1997 the Director of Health for the State of Ohio issued a rabies quarantine for Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, and Ashtabula counties. This means that the owner of dogs and cats must provide proof of rabies inoculations before purchasing a license for these animals and that all dogs and cats must be restrained by their owner. In addition to this quarantine a massive rabies immunization program targeting the wild raccoon population began on May 12, 1997. To help you understand what is involved in this project we are providing some questions and answers about this program.
About the Baiting Project-
What is the Oral Rabies Vaccination Project?
The oral rabies vaccination project for raccoons is a lot like any childhood immunization program. Just as children are vaccinated against viral diseases like measles and mumps, raccoons are vaccinated against rabies.
How is a raccoon vaccinated?
A raccoon is vaccinated by eating a bait containing the vaccine. Baits are dropped in areas frequented by raccoons.
Why do raccoons need to be vaccinated?
Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system of mammals including humans. The disease is almost always fatal once clinical signs of infection occur. The spread of raccoon rabies is of great concern because the high numbers of raccoons in certain areas of Ohio make it more likely for a human or domestic (pet or livestock) animal to encounter a rabid raccoon. Past efforts to vaccinate raccoons have shown that after vaccination up to 49 percent of raccoons in the vaccination area are immune to rabies. Vaccination will greatly decrease the chance of human and domestic animal contact with rabid raccoons.
Where is the vaccination area?
The vaccination area is determined by plotting the areas where rabid raccoons have been found. The oral vaccine will be air and hand dropped in a wide zone surrounding the area of the outbreak.
How is the project's success measured?
Raccoons are live-trapped a few weeks after the distribution of the vaccine bait so that a blood sample may be drawn and tested for antibodies against rabies. The presence of antibodies means the vaccine has had a protective effect against rabies. Live-trapping occurs in the vaccination area. Increased surveillance for sick or dead raccoons will also be conducted.
How can you help?
Everyone can help by being aware of what the bait looks like and encouraging children to leave the bait alone. Pet owners can help by keeping all dogs and cats inside or on leashes so vaccine-laden baits can be eaten by raccoons. Most of the baits will be gone within 10- 14 days.
About the Bait-
What is in the bait?
The bait consists of a rectangular block made from a compressed mixture of fish meal and fish oil known to attract raccoons. The vaccine is inside a plastic bag (sachet) that is inserted in the middle of the block.
What if I find a bait near my home?
Leave it alone, or if intact and out in the open, toss it into deeper cover.
Are gloves required to handle the bait or will I be harmed if I handle the intact bait without gloves?
It is not harmful to touch an intact bait; however, the bait does have a strong odor so individuals might prefer to wear gloves when handling it. Wash your hands thoroughly after any direct contact with the bait.
What if my dog or cat eats a bait?
The bait is not harmful to dogs or cats. If your pet has contact with the actual vaccine packet, contact the Mahoning County Health Department at (330) 788-7041 so they can record the contact.
What if my child eats the bait?
The bait itself will not harm the child. In the unlikely event that a child bites the embedded ampule or sachet and ingests the liquid vaccine, contact the Mahoning County Health Department at (330) 788-7041 so they can record the contact.
If my child or pet ingests the vaccine, will either of them get rabies?
No, it is not possible to get rabies from the vaccine. The vaccine does not contain the rabies virus, only a single gene from that virus.
Can this vaccine be used to vaccinate my dog or cat against rabies?
No, this vaccine is approved only for use in wildlife. Vaccination of pets should be done by veterinarians in accordance with state regulations. Pet vaccination is essential to protect your pet against rabies.
RABIES - WHAT IS IT?
Rabies is a virus that attacks nerves and brain tissue of most animals. When an animal is sick with rabies, the virus is shed in the saliva. It is then spread to other animals or people when the virus-laden saliva get into a wound or mucous membrane. This is usually through a bite.
Most rabies is found in wildlife, such as skunks, bats and raccoons. Pets get rabies from wildlife. Dogs and cats pose the greatest risk in spreading the disease from wildlife to people. Birds and reptiles do not carry rabies.
There is still no cure for rabies once symptoms develop, but the disease can be stopped in people if a series of rabies immunizations are given soon after exposure to the virus. Untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in both man and animals.
It is important to remember that most animals are not rabid. Animals with rabies may show strange behavior - they can be aggressive, attacking for no reason, but they can also act very tame (especially wild animals), stagger, fall over, or become paralyzed,have wounds from fighting with other animals (often on the face and front legs), not be able to eat, drink, or swallow, and sometimes they may drool (because they can't swallow their saliva). Wild animals with rabies lose their fear of people. Often night animals may be out roaming during the day.
To protect yourself and your family please take the following precautions:
Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals, and be cautious of stray dogs or cats that appear sick with signs of rabies.
Instruct children to leave wildlife alone. Be sure your child knows to tell you if they were bitten or scratched by an animal.
Have your veterinarian vaccinate all your dogs and cats against rabies, and keep them up to date.
Tightly cap garbage cans. Do not attract wild and stray animals to your home or yard.
Feed pets indoors and never leave them outdoors unattended.
RABIES - WHAT TO DO IF BITTEN BY AN ANIMAL
Immediately wash the wound with lots of soap and running water.
Capture the animal, if possible, so it can be checked for rabies. Take care to prevent additional bites.
Obtain the pet owner's name, address, and telephone number. Find out if the animal has a current rabies vaccination and write down the rabies tag and license number.
If an animal must be killed, do not damage the head as rabies testing is done on the brain.
When dealing with a dead animal, wear gloves or use a shovel to move the animal. Put the animal's body in a heavy duty plastic bag and place in a protected area away from people and other animals. If necessary, a dead animal may be kept overnight on ice or in a refrigerator until it can be picked up for testing. Do not freeze. Clean the area and tools with one part bleach to 10 parts water.
DO NOT DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE. Go to your family doctor or the nearest emergency room.
Call your county or city health department right away.
HAVE THIS INFORMATION READY:
type and description of animal including any features or marks;
if it was a pet, whether it wore a collar, has tags, and where it lives;
how the bite occurred;
whether the animal has been seen in the area before and what direction it was traveling.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A WILD ANIMAL, especially a raccoon, bat, skunk or fox:
Stay away and keep your children away.
Keep pets indoors.
Let the animal go away on its own.
You may call a nuisance trapper who will remove the animal for a fee.
IF THE ANIMAL IS THREATENING PEOPLE OR PETS:
Call the appropriate local authority. This varies with the community. It may be the police, wildlife officer, animal control officer, humane society, or a nuisance trapper.
IF YOUR PET IS EXPOSED TO A WILD ANIMAL THAT MIGHT BE RABID:
If possible, retain the wild animal (dead or alive) so it can be tested.
Call your veterinarian. Vaccinated pets will need a rabies booster shot within five days of the attack.
An unvaccinated pet must be quarantined for six months or humanely destroyed.
Contact your local health department for advice on testing or quarantine.
For further information call:
Mahoning County Health Department
270-2855
Struthers City Health Department
755-7857
Campbell City Health Department
755-2173
Mahoning County Dog Warden
740-2205
Mahoning County Wildlife Officer
644-3802 EXT 3213
Columbiana County Health Department
424-0272
The Mahoning County and Youngstown City Boards of Health are sponsoring a rabies vaccination clinic for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Clinics are scheduled for three locations.
Call your local health department to find out the times and locations of clinics in your area.No appointment is necessary for the clinics. Dog owners must have their dogs on a leash. Cat owners must have their cats caged or carried in a cloth pillowcase. A $2.00 fee will be charged.
Information obtained from Ohio Department of Health and the Mahoning County Health Department.
