The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has announced the commencement of an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) distribution program in northeast and north-central Alabama. This initiative, led by the United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services program (USDA-WS), aims to reduce raccoon rabies and mitigate public health risks associated with rabies exposures.
Over the next three weeks, coated sachet baits containing the RABORAL V-RG oral rabies vaccine will be distributed across a 14,000 square-kilometer bait zone. The targeted areas include parts of Autauga, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Coosa, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, St. Clair, Shelby, and Talladega counties.
In the Birmingham metropolitan area, more than 30,000 ORV baits will be distributed from ground vehicles through Oct. 16. These baits, designed to attract raccoons, are square blocks made of fishmeal and fish oil, with the vaccine contained inside a plastic packet. The outer shell is coated with fishmeal or dog meal to entice raccoons, which are vaccinated when they open the packet with their teeth.
In rural and heavily wooded areas, low-flying airplanes and helicopters will be used to distribute the baits. The aerially distributed baits are plastic packets coated with an oily, fish-scented substance. Each bait is marked with a toll-free number for assistance or information if found or contacted.
Dr. Dee W. Jones, State Public Health Veterinarian, emphasized the safety and importance of the program. “I understand the concern from citizens and owners when an ORV packet is found in an unintended place or when there is an unintended exposure, but I am hopeful that people keep the big picture in mind, and that is actually reducing the risk of rabies exposures in Alabama by vaccinating raccoons,” he said. He added that historical data supports the safety of the vaccine packets, which benefit public health, animal welfare, and wildlife.
The program is a collaborative effort involving the USDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the ADPH, and other agencies. For more information about the federal ORV usage in Alabama, contact the USDA at 1-866-487-3297. For inquiries about rabies exposures or ORV contact, call ADPH at 1-800-338-8374. Additional details are available on the USDA’s website.
