ATLANTA — Georgia residents are being encouraged to know what to expect as oral rabies vaccine baits are scheduled to be distributed across parts of the state this month.
Last month, USDA officials announced plans to distribute 648,000 oral rabies vaccine baits through the Dalton project, which covers parts of Georgia. The baits will be distributed by airplane and helicopter.
The Georgia Wildlife Network is reminding residents that the baits are intended for wildlife and should generally be left alone if they are found.
The initiative follows a health advisory issued last month by the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to inform clinicians, health departments, and to inform the public about recent increases in animal rabies activity.
Across metro Atlanta, multiple rabies cases have been reported including in Lawrenceville. Officials say a dead bat and a dead cat found earlier this year were infected with rabies.
Georgia Wildlife Network officials say a dog or cat potentially eating a large number of baits may cause them a temporary stomach upset, however, it does not pose a long-term health risk. Pet owners should not try to remove a bait from an animal’s mouth because they could be bitten. If a pet becomes ill after consuming the baits, the USDA recommends contacting a veterinarian.
If you find a bait, the USDA recommends leaving it where it is unless it is on a lawn, driveway or another area where it is unlikely to attract wildlife. If it needs to be moved, people should wear gloves or use a plastic bag as a barrier and wash their hands afterwards, officials added.
The goal of the vaccination program is to create a barrier against the westward spread of raccoon rabies, according to officials.
The vaccine is contained inside a packet within the bait, which is punctured when an animal eats through the outer coating, officials said.
The vaccine cannot cause rabies and has been shown to be safe in more than 60 species, including dogs and cats, according to the Georgia Wildlife Network.
The dates for the rabies vaccination drops have not been announced.
For more information about the oral rabies vaccination program, visit the USDA’s rabies information page.