Allegheny County Health Department to disperse rabies vaccine bait for raccoons

The Allegheny County Health Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services has issued an alert that it plans to distribute rabies vaccine bait across the county — including in many parks — between Aug. 5 and 9.

The raccoon baiting program is in its 18th year. This year, the health department and USDA Wildlife Services will distribute more than 300,000 baits in all 130 municipalities across Allegheny County, and in select parts of Beaver and Washington counties.

A raccoon is vaccinated by eating a bait containing the vaccine. The raccoon will develop antibodies in two to three weeks that may protect it if it is exposed to another infected raccoon. 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 dogs, consuming too much can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea, health officials said.

Rabies is transmitted by an animal bite or scratch. The virus can be fatal when exposures are left untreated.

Rabies vaccines are highly effective when given promptly after an exposure.