News Release 8-29-2001 |
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RABIES VACCINE PROGRAM RECEIVES PRAISE FROM WV LEADERS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CHARLESTON, WV — In conjunction with several federal and state agencies, West Virginia will now be part of a successful national program designed to reduce, if not eliminate, Raccoon Strain Rabies (RSR) as a threat to public and animal health. The Oral Rabies Vaccine (ORV) Program will airdrop small fishmeal baits with a vaccine packet to halt the westward movement of this contagious and potentially deadly disease of both humans and animals. Through the leadership of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Wildlife Services is funding the $1.9 million cost of the West Virginia phase of the ORV Program. The airdrops are tentatively scheduled for September 10-21, and will occur over a 15-30 mile corridor down the center of the Mountain State, from Hancock County in the northern panhandle to Wyoming County in the southern coalfields. Other counties in the designated area include Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Kanawha, Lewis, Marshall, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, Raleigh, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler and Wetzel Counties. The ORV Program is a cooperative effort among USDA/Wildlife Services, West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR), and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). “The threat that rabies poses to human and animal safety has been on the rise in recent years. This vaccination program is an effective step toward meeting the health challenges posed by rabies. The combined efforts of the federal government and state agencies to combat this potentially fatal virus should have a positive impact on West Virginia residents, their pets, and state wildlife,” Senator Byrd said. Approximately 800,000 baits will be dropped by bright yellow “Twin Otter” planes from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. These aircraft have been used with the program in other states, and have been found to be quite effective. “This same program has been used in Texas, New York, Florida and even in Europe with very positive results,” said West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “Thanks to Senator Byrd, West Virginia can now be a part of the successful vaccination program. We’ve followed the westward progress of this disease and the time has come to take action against this strain of rabies, which threatens not only our wildlife population, but domestic animals and people as well.” Commissioner Douglass added that the bait is not dangerous to humans or animals, but that anyone finding a bait should leave it alone so that it can do its job. However, any bait landing near a house, barn or animal pen should be moved to a wooded area to avoid bringing wild animals into contact with pets or children. “I think the smell will pretty much keep people and children away from the baits, and will be the proverbial dinner bell for raccoons,” Douglass said. Cases of rabid wild animals have been steadily rising since the late-1970s. The trend has been particularly prevalent in the past few years due to the drop in raccoon hunting brought about by extremely low prices for pelts. Although human cases are rare and treatable if detected quickly, rabies will result in death if left untreated. Anyone who believes they may have been exposed through an animal bite should seek medical attention immediately. “The rabies virus is contained in the saliva of infected animals and is generally transmitted through a bite,” said Lewis Thomas, State Veterinarian and Director of WVDA’s Animal Health Division. “And while it is true that rabid animals can be very aggressive, they can also show no symptoms at all and still be carrying the disease. The main danger to humans is that a pet may contract the disease from a wild animal and then inadvertently pass it on to a human before the infected animal’s symptoms become evident.” For more information about the ORV Program, contact 1-800-423-1271, or the ORV program website (http://www.wvdhhr.org/bph/oehp/sdc/rabies.htm).
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©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved |
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