The US Department of Agriculture is trying to combat rabies in raccoons by dropping fish-flavored rabies vaccines from planes (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The US Department of Agriculture began dropping fish-flavored rabies vaccines out of the sky in hopes that raccoons and other woodland creatures would consume them to prevent the spread of the disease.

Each year, the agency distributes RABORAL V-RG vaccines in vaccine baits stationed in different parts of the country to prevent the spread of rabies to wildlife.

Focused primarily on preventing the spread of raccoon rabies in the eastern United States. The program will continue through October, according to a USDA press release.

In more rural areas of the country, fish-flavored vaccines have been removed from planes. In the suburbs and cities they arrive by helicopter or by car.

Workers who distribute vaccines by machine will place the vaccines by hand at designated “bait stations” in wooded areas, according to the release.

In August, the program will focus on Maine and West Virginia, with hundreds of thousands of vaccines distributed, and will provide 535,000 vaccines.

Between September and mid-October, 70,000 vaccines will be collected in Massachusetts.

By October, southern states, including Alabama, will begin rabies vaccination with more than 1 million doses.

The oral vaccine, officially called RABORAL V-RG, has been shown to be safe in more than 60 animal species, according to the USDA.

This vaccine is safe for many animals, including household pets. This means pet owners don’t have to worry about their cats or dogs getting one of the shots. Many vaccinated dogs may experience stomach problems, but there should be no long-term health problems as a result.

If a child or adult touches the bait, immediately wash the contact area with warm, soapy water.

Rabies has the highest fatality rate of any disease, according to US Department of Agriculture officials, which is the primary cause for concern. If bitten by an untreated rabid animal, the mortality rate is 100%.

However, by the time the bitten person begins to show symptoms, it is usually too late.

Cases of human rabies are extremely rare, with one to three cases reported each year in the United States. Nonetheless, rabies exposure remains common, with approximately 60,000 Americans receiving post-exposure vaccinations each year.

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