Province to drop rabies baits next month
People advised not to disturb vaccination packets, which will be airdropped and distributed by hand in western New Brunswick in mid-August
The provincial government will be scattered packages of bait loaded with rabies vaccine around the western region of New Brunswick next month so as to limit the spread of the disease among wildlife.
In a news release issued Monday morning, the province advised its continuing and expanding its rabies prevention program in August.
“About 341,000 aerial animal vaccination baits will be dropped over 7,150 square kilometres of western New Brunswick from Aug. 12-18,” the release stated, noting two departments - Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, and Natural Resources and Energy Development - are participating in the program.
Dr. Nicole Wanamaker, chief veterinary officer with Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, said the program aims to curb the spread of rabies in New Brunswick.
“This effort is part of the rabies prevention and control measures conducted in western New Brunswick each summer,” she said in the release. “Any vaccine bait found should be left alone.”
The program won’t be limited to aerial drops, the release said, noting that by the end of this month, 14,000 vaccination baits will have been distributed by hand.
“The public is reminded that if they see the blister-packs of bait to leave them alone and to keep children and pets away from them,” the release said.
“The blister-packs are green with a label describing the contents, including a toll-free number.”
Obviously, the baits are intended for consumption by wild animals, it said.
“If someone picks up a packet, they should wash their hands thoroughly and anyone who eats material from a packet should seek medical attention,” the release said.
Eight cases of rabies have been detected in raccoons in New Brunswick since November, and that led to two people requiring treatment for exposure to rabies, it said.
The province advised that rabid animals may not show signs or symptoms initially, and it reminded people that the effort goes beyond vaccinations for wildlife.
“New Brunswickers are urged to take steps to protect themselves, their families, their pets and livestock from rabies by ensuring the vaccinations of pets and livestock are up to date, by keeping a safe distance from wildlife, by refraining from adopting or relocating wildlife, by not interfering with wild animals that appear abandoned and by seeking medical attention promptly if they have been bitten or scratched by an animal that could be rabid,“ the release said.
Anyone who spots a raccoon, skunk or fox that appears sick or rabid is urged to call Tele-Care 811 to report it.
The government tracks rabies cases, and a map of confirmed cases can be found here.
The Fredericton Independent can be reached by email here.