USDA to Disperse Rabies Vaccine

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Later this week the USDA will be dispensing rabies vaccination for wildlife in Hamilton County and surrounding areas.

“The reason that’s important is because they’re trying to decrease the reservoir of rabies out in the wildlife population. Dispersing them out into the woods where hopefully the wildlife will pick it up. They’re fish flavored so the raccoons and skunks and coyotes and foxes and animals that would normally like to eat  things that have meat in them will eat the treat. They think it’s a treat it’s actually a bait”, said veterinarian Dr. Tia Federico.

The USDA will be dropping off the vaccine by the use of air crafts.
This will help your pets from potential catching the disease and spreading it to you.

“Most parts of the world its invariably fatal. 100% of the time in people. It’s not going to cause any harm to the wildlife or to your pets if they eat them or even to you if you were to pick one up or if a child were to pick one up”, Dr. Federico.

After the wildlife is immunized researchers with the USDA will conduct a test to see if the vaccine was effective.

“They trap some of them and see what kind of what percentage of the raccoons they catch have produced an immunity to the rabies vaccination.”

The Hamilton County Health Department said no wildlife has tested positive for rabies since 2006.
The do advise anyone with a pet to make sure their animals have the rabies vaccine.