The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is collaborating with state officials on a significant public health initiative to control the spread of rabies among wildlife, particularly raccoons. This effort will involve the distribution of oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits across the region in August.
The baiting operation, which will take place from August 6 to August 24, will cover the greater Pittsburgh area. Helicopters flying at an altitude of approximately 200 feet will be used to distribute the vaccine baits. These helicopters will take off from the Beaver County Airport, ensuring a wide coverage area.
The ORV baits are specifically designed to appeal to raccoons. They contain a vaccine that immunizes the animals against rabies when ingested. This method has been proven effective in reducing rabies cases among wildlife populations, thereby decreasing the risk of transmission to pets and humans.
This initiative is part of a larger, ongoing effort to control rabies across various regions in the United States. The USDA has been implementing similar programs in different states, leveraging aerial bait distribution as an effective strategy to manage wildlife-borne diseases.