Oral Rabies Vaccine Bait Spread in Eastern U.S.

Since rabies is a serious ongoing public health concern, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on August 4, 2023, its annual distribution of RABORAL V-RG®, an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) bait, would be distributed in select areas in the eastern United States to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies.

ORV baits are coated with a fishmeal attractant and are packaged in two-inch plastic sachets or one-inch square cubes.

The RABORAL V-RG vaccine is safe for many animals, including domestic dogs and cats. Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the baits.

If adults or children come in contact with baits, immediately rinse the contact area with warm water and soap, says the APHIS.

While raccoons and dogs are high-risk rabies carriers, wild, infected bats are the leading cause of rabies in the U.S.

Rabies is found in more than 150 countries and territories, say the World Health Organization. And rabies infections are almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but deaths can generally be prevented with appropriate therapies.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its recommendations for rabies preexposure prophylaxis for humans in 2022, now endorsing a two-dose program.

In the U.S., rabies vaccines are available in 2023.