If your child gets one in the woods, take him or her to a doctor immediately
Health authorities are warning parents to be on the lookout for quarter-sized green bags in upstate New York this month.
More than 600,000 rabies vaccines will be distributed by air in various provinces between August 12 and 21.
While authorities say most packages are eaten by animals within four days, parents are urged to be vigilant and call a doctor immediately if their child comes into contact with them.
The vaccines are not fatal to humans, but can cause skin irritation.
These green, quarter-sized bags contain an oral rabies vaccine for wild animals.
Health departments in northern New York State are working with the New York State Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services to drop oral rabies vaccines for wildlife.
βThis oral rabies vaccine is intended for raccoons, foxes and coyotes and should protect them from rabies infection,β Deputy Director of Environmental Health Peter Tripi said in a press release.
The bait for the oral rabies vaccine comes in small green packets about the size of a quarter.
To make the bait attractive to wildlife, the bags are coated with a sweet attractant consisting of vegetable fats, wax, powdered sugar, vegetable oil, artificial marshmallow flavour and dark green food grade colouring.
However, officials warn that some children may view the vaccine as a treat and may want to eat it.
The program, which is held annually, usesSix-winged aircraft drop bait against oral rabies vaccine.
The targeted counties are Erie, Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming, and northern Chautauqua and Cattaraugus.
On August 17, Erie County Department of Public Health (ECDOH) vector control workers will be manually baiting urban and populated areas of the county. Helicopters will be dropping bait over central and northwestern Erie County through August 21.
“This essential service distributes oral rabies vaccine where wildlife eats it. When foxes, skunks, raccoons, groundhogs and other mammals eat these small green packets, the size of a quarter, they are protected from rabies, a virus that is 100% fatal,” ECDOH said in the release.
This map shows where and how rabies vaccines and kits are delivered in New York State.
Low-flying planes will drop the first round of vaccine packages over rural and suburban towns in Erie County.
When an animal bites the bait, it will release the vaccine in its mouth. With an adequate dose, the animal will develop immunity to rabies.
People and pets cannot get rabies from the bait. But officials urge the public not to touch it and to closely monitor children to make sure they do not touch or eat it.
Residents who come into contact with the bait should immediately wash their hands and then call the New York State Department of Health’s Rabies Information Line at (888) 574-6656, officials say.
If you must move a vaccine package, officials advise wearing gloves or using a plastic bag or paper towel to pick it up. If the bait is damaged, throw it in the trash. If it is intact, throw it in a wooded area.
If your pet eats the bait, do not try to remove it from his mouth. Eating it will not harm him, but he may vomit if he eats multiple baits, officials say. Contact a veterinarian if your pet has eaten vaccine baits.
The ECDOH also advises keeping pets indoors as much as possible during the vaccination campaign. This way you can be sure that only wild animals eat the bait.
Most baits are eaten within four days, and nearly all are gone a week after they are dropped, officials say. Any baits that are not found and eaten dissolve harmlessly, and the exposed vaccine is inactivated.