Oral rabies vaccine distribution planned in Aroostook County

    AUGUSTA — Beginning Friday, Aug. 28, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its cooperators will be distributing approximately 100,000 oral rabies vaccination baits in Aroostook County to help prevent the further spread of the raccoon variant of rabies.      Wildlife Services, a program within the USDA, in cooperation with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health and Industry, will distribute the baits by hand, vehicle and by a low-flying fixed-wing aircraft in rural areas over 585 square miles.  
    Rabies, an infectious viral disease that infects the nervous system of humans and other mammals, is normally transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms are present, although timely post-exposure treatment is effective in preventing the disease in humans.  
    Since 2003, Wildlife Services has been working towards reducing the spread of rabies in northern Maine and east into New Brunswick, Canada, because it is a threat to public health and safety. Baits are coated with a fishmeal that attracts animals and may be packaged in one-inch square cubes or two-inch plastic sachets. Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the baits, but are asked to leave them undisturbed should they see them.
    Raboral V-RG ® has been shown to be safe in more than 60 different species of animals, including domestic dogs and cats. If you come into contact with the vaccine, wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and water and contact your local public health officials at 877-RABORAL (877-722-6725).
    To help protect yourself against rabies, you should:
• Keep your pet’s rabies vaccination current;
• Do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals and be cautious of stray dogs and cats;
• Feed pets indoors;
• Keep garbage cans or other sources of food tightly secured; and  
• Do not move raccoons or other wildlife from one area to another because this can spread rabies into new areas.
    Please contact the Wildlife Services’ office in Augusta at 622-8263 to report dead or suspicious-acting raccoons, skunks, fox or coyotes in northern Maine. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and contact your doctor and the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 800-821-5821 in Augusta for advice.