The annual oral rabies vaccination program, which helps control the spread of rabies in wild animals, is underway in eight western Pennsylvania counties.
The program covers all or parts of Allegheny, Beaver, Crawford, Erie, Greene, Lawrence, Mercer and Washington counties.
"Controlling the spread of rabies in wild animals is essential to ensuring human and domestic animal health," said Agriculture Secretary George Greig. "The oral rabies vaccination program has been the key component in preventing the westward spread of raccoon rabies. I appreciate the cooperation of residents in the affected counties in helping us to mitigate the threat of rabies."
Wildlife rabies accounts for more than 90 percent of the nation's reported rabies cases, with raccoons making up more than half of this total. The primary purpose of the baiting is to vaccinate raccoons, although other animals that ingest the bait will be vaccinated against the virus.
Hand-baiting operations began Aug. 12 and will continue until Aug. 22 in Allegheny County and portions of Beaver and Washington counties. Aerial operations will be conducted in the western less-populated portions of Beaver, Crawford, Erie, Greene, Lawrence, Mercer and Washington counties beginning Sept. 5 and continuing up to seven days.