With a goal to stop the spread of eastern U.S. strain of raccoon rabies in West Virginia, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, supported by other state and federal agencies- especially the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services has implemented a program to immunize wild raccoons for rabies.

Beginning September 7, 2008 the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and cooperators will be distributing rabies vaccine-containing baits to establish an immune barrier to halt the spread of raccoon strain rabies westward in West Virginia. We anticipate completion by the end of September. The target area covers a wide corridor through the central part of the state, extending from the northern panhandle to the southern coalfields.  Counties that will receive baits include:  Barbour, Braxton, Brooke, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Greenbrier, Hancock, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Marshall, McDowell, Mercer, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Taylor, Tyler, Upshur, Webster, Wetzel and Wyoming.  We will be using low-flying fixed wing aircraft to distribute the baits.

In order to educate children and their parents about the rabies bait distribution, we would greatly appreciate school systems to copy and send the enclosed information home with students.

Contact your local health department or the West Virginia Oral Rabies Vaccination Program at 1-800-423-1271 if you have any questions regarding the scheduled bait drop. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this important public health effort.