The City of Laredo Animal Care Services Department (LACS) is working with the Texas Department of State and Health Services (DSHS) to conduct the 11TH Annual Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (OVRP).
The OVRP targets wildlife along the U.S.-Mexico border and uses an oral rabies vaccine/bait to prevent the reintroduction of wildlife rabies in the surrounding area. An aerial distribution of the oral vaccine took place earlier this month, and LACS officers will be executing a hand baiting operation in outlying areas of the U.S.-Mexico border on January 16 and 17.
The vaccine/baits will not be distributed in any residential areas or municipal parks, nor do they pose any immediate or life-threatening dangers. However, the public is advised to take precautions if they encounter one of the baits in their area.
The vaccine/baits are small coated plastic sachets dipped in fish oil and coated with fishmeal crumbs. Each vaccine/bait has a printed warning.
Residents are advised to take the following steps if they encounter or are exposed to an oral rabies vaccine/bait:
- If the bait is intact, pick it up with a paper towel or gloves and throw it away into the habitat, away from pets and children
- If the bait is damaged or no acceptable habitat is nearby to toss it to, protect your hands, place it in a plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash
- If the bait is ruptured and the vaccine has had contact with an open wound, wash the area thoroughly. If there is any unusual reaction around the wound in the following seven days, contact your doctor and call the Department of State Health Services at (512) 776-7255
If pets encounter or are exposed to the oral rabies vaccine/bait, residents are advised to take the following steps:
- If the bait has fallen within the confinement area of the pet, check the area and remove all baits using a paper towel or glove. Throw the bait into the habitat, away from pets and children, or put it in a plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash.
- If the bait is ruptured, keep the pet from licking people, especially near the face and wounds, for 48 hours. Wash skin if there is saliva contact within the 48-hour period after pet’s contact with the bait.
- If the pet has eaten a large number of baits, they may have diarrhea. Contact your veterinarian if the diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours.
The outlying areas where the hand baiting operation will take place include Highway 59 (north), University Boulevard (north), Loop 20 (north), Between 35/Killam, Killam (north), Mines (north), Penitas (north), Penitas (south), El Pico Water Plant (south), Laredo College (south), Anna (south), Meadow/Napoleon (south), Palo Blanco (south), Masterson Road (south), Laredo College South (south), Mangana Hein (east) Cuatro Vientos (north), Highway 359 (north). Loop 20 (north) and Chacon Slaughter Park (south).
The vaccine is created utilizing the most current technology and only non-infectious portions of the rabies virus are used. Neither humans nor animals are in danger of developing rabies if they are exposed to the vaccine. However, it is advised that physicians consider the possibility of complications due to exposure to the vaccine, particularly if the person is immune-compromised or has dermatological conditions such as eczema. Although it is unlikely for any illness to occur, the DSHS can assist in obtaining vaccinia immune globulin if necessary. A domestic animal’s annual rabies vaccination can be safely administered even if it recently ingested a dose of oral rabies vaccine.
In South Texas alone, 14.64 Million doses of the vaccine/bait have been distributed over 239,800 square miles. Since the program’s inception in 1995, zero cases of Domestic Dog/Coyote rabies have been reported and only one Texas Fox rabies case was reported in 2014 in the state of Texas. This annual maintenance helps prevent these rabies variants from being re-introduced in the area.
For additional information contact Region 11 Zoonosis Control at (956) 444-3212, or Karina Elizondo at the City of Laredo Animal Care Services at (956) 625-1860.
