Greene County can expect the rabies vaccine drop to happen between October 5, 2024, and October 11, 2024.
The Tennessee Department of Health is working with the United States Department of Agriculture to help prevent rabies by distributing oral rabies vaccines for wild raccoons along Tennessee’s boarders in many counties.
The coated sachet baits containing the oral rabies vaccine will be distributed by low-flying airplanes and helicopters. The aircraft carrying the vaccine baits have navigator controls that turn off to prevent the baits from landing on roadways, structures, large bodies of waters, excreta.
The drop will last throughout the boarder counties of Tennessee for a expected time of three weeks.
Although the vaccine products are safe, the USDA Wildlife Services program has issued these precautions:
- If you or your pet finds a vaccine bait package, confine your pet and look for other baits in the area. Wear gloves or use a towel and toss baits into a wooded or fencerow area. These baits should be removed from where your pet could easily eat them. Eating the baits won’t harm your pet, but consuming several baits might upset your pet’s stomach.
- Do not try to remove an oral rabies vaccine packet from your pet’s mouth, as you could be bitten.
- Wear gloves or use a towel when you pick up bait. While there is no harm in touching undamaged baits, they have a strong fishmeal smell. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if there is any chance the vaccine packet has been ruptured.
- Instruct children to leave baits alone.
A warning label on each bait advises people not to touch the bait and contains the rabies information line telephone number.
Each bait is marked with a toll-free number (1-877-722-6725) for people to call for assistance or information if they find or come in contact with a bait.
