A program is being launched this week to immunize wild raccoons for rabies using an oral rabies vaccine placed inside a small square of fishmeal bait, it was announced by Jim Parks, director of environmental health for Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department.

Appearing before the Hamilton County Commission, he said the vaccine is in a block of compressed fishmeal and fish oil about an inch square and will be distributed over rural areas by low-flying aircraft and in residential areas by hand by crews working on the ground. The area will include portions of Hamilton, Marion and Sequatchie counties.

“With good weather, we anticipate completion within one week,” he said. The majority of the baits will be distributed by hand in the Hamilton County and Chattanooga area.

The program is being launched because of the detection of raccoon rabies in Georgia and the vaccine is designed to create an immune barrier to prevent the spread into this area.

Joining in the effort are the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Tennessee Department of Health and the CDC along with other state and federal agencies.

Mr. Parks said raccoons that eat the vaccine-laced bait become immune to rabies.

He said baits should be left alone, but intact baits can be moved if they are found where children and pets play. Damaged baits should be bagged and disposed in the trash. People and pets cannot get rabies from coming into contact with the baits.

If baits are found, according to project guidelines, wear gloves or use a paper towel when picking up a bait. Toss intact bait into a fencerow, woodlot, ditch or other raccoon habitat areas. Wash hands after any skin contact with damaged bait.

According to the guidelines, if a pet eats a bait, a few are not harmful but eating a lot may cause vomiting or diarrhea. Do not risk getting bitten by taking bait away from a pet. Confine the pet for a couple of days and check the area for more baits. These baits should be removed from where a pet could eat them.

The area included extends from parts of East Brainerd, Harrison and Middle Valley to the western edge of the county and into Sequatchie and Marion counties. Parts of North Georgia also are included.

The danger in raccoon rabies is the aggressive nature of the animals. According to CDC, bat rabies occurs at low levels in all counties, but bats tend to avoid humans and other animals. Skunk rabies exists in middle and northeast Tennessee, but rabid skunks are slow, not aggressive and easy to avoid.

The public health significance of raccoon rabies is that it appears in areas where human and companion animals exposure to rabies greatly increases in comparison to skunk and bat rabies.

The raccoon populations are thickest in suburban areas and raccoons are extremely aggressive when rabid and thus bite more humans, dogs, cats, foxes, squirrels and other animals.

To prevent the spread, pet owners are urged to keep all pets vaccinated and avoid wild animals, especially if they appear to be ill.