Allegheny County to disperse rabies bait to vaccinate raccoons

The Allegheny County Health Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture services are partnering to distribute bait around the region to vaccinate raccoons against the rabies virus.

The bait will be delivered by hand, low-flying helicopters and airplanes from Aug. 2-10.

“Allegheny County plays a critical role in rabies management and prevention in the United States,” said Jamie Sokol, Raccoon Rabies Baiting Project manager. “Hopefully, the success of our program will serve as a model for other metropolitan areas as efforts to eliminate rabies in raccoons shift towards the Eastern Seaboard.”

Crews are expected to distribute more than 300,000 baits in all 130 Allegheny County municipalities and parts of Beaver and Washington counties.

Officials said not to be alarmed by slow-moving aircraft during the bait delivery time period.

The block-shaped oral bait is comprised of a mixture of fish meal and fish oil. Inside the block’s center is a pink dyed plastic capsule containing the vaccine.

If enough raccoons are vaccinated, the risk of the spread of rabies will be greatly reduced, according to the health department.

Contact with the bait should be avoided, and if it must be moved, latex gloves are recommended.

Although the bait is not fatal if eaten by pets, consuming too much can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea, health officials said.

The health department urges residents to bring food that raccoons might eat inside to ensure they are hungry enough to eat the bait.