Rabies vaccine deemed public health success in Ohio

Associated Press - September 7, 2007 6:45 PM ET

CLEVELAND (AP) - Health officials say a wildlife rabies vaccination program has succeeded in halting the spread of the disease through Ohio and into other parts of the Midwest.

After rabies slipped into Ohio a decade ago, researchers warned that the virus could quickly sweep across the state.

Since 1997, more than 9.7 million vaccine-laden baits have been dropped in 14 Ohio counties.

Ohio Department of Health spokesman Kristopher Weiss says the baits have acted as an immunization barrier that seems to be blocking the disease's advance.

Bats, coyotes and skunks carry the disease.

But Weiss says raccoons are targeted for vaccination because they often enter neighborhoods where they can spread rabies to domestic animals and humans through bites and scratches.


Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com

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