HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The annual oral rabies vaccination program is underway in 12 western Pennsylvania counties, Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding said today.

The program, which helps control rabies in wild animals, covers all or parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Greene, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

"Vaccinating wild animals against rabies is essential to ensuring human and domestic animal health," said Redding. "The oral rabies vaccination program has proven successful over the past six years, reducing the number of reported cases in Pennsylvania by nearly 60 percent. I appreciate the cooperation of residents in the affected counties in helping us to mitigate the threat of rabies."

Wildlife rabies accounts for more than 90 percent of the reported rabies cases in the United States, with raccoons making up more than half of this total. The primary purpose of the baiting is to vaccinate raccoons, although other animals that ingest the bait will be vaccinated against the virus.

Since Aug. 20, trained professionals have been spreading bait packs by hand in densely populated areas of western Pennsylvania. Hand-baiting will continue through Sept. 24. Through Sept. 5, low-flying aircraft will drop bait in sparsely populated areas.

Oral rabies vaccination baits are coated with a fishmeal attractant and may be packaged in off-white, one-inch square cubes or two-inch plastic sachets.  Images of the baits can be viewed at www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/4578217863/.

Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the baits, but are asked not to disturb them if discovered. This vaccine has been shown to be safe in more than 60 different species of animals, including domestic dogs and cats.

If contact with vaccination bait occurs, a person should immediately rinse the affected area with warm water and soap.

Six agencies are partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services for this program, including the state departments of Agriculture and Health, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Erie County Health Department, Allegheny County Health Department and the Center for Disease Control.

For more information about the oral rabies vaccination baiting program, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services at 717-772-2852, or visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and search for "Rabies."

Media contact: Nicole L. C. Bucher, 717-787-5085

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

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http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us