Oral Rabies Vaccine Distribution Underway in Northeast and North-Central Alabama

October 14, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services program (USDA-WS), has launched a three-week oral rabies vaccine (ORV) distribution campaign across northeast and north-central Alabama. The initiative aims to reduce raccoon rabies and minimize public health risks associated with rabies exposure.

The vaccine, RABORAL V-RG®, is being delivered via coated sachet baits across a 14,000 square-kilometer zone that includes portions of Autauga, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Coosa, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, St. Clair, Shelby, and Talladega counties. Distribution methods include low-flying airplanes and helicopters for rural and wooded areas, while ground vehicles are used in urban and suburban zones such as the Birmingham metropolitan area.

More than 30,000 ORV baits are being hand-distributed in populated areas through October 16. These baits are square blocks made of fishmeal and fish oil, containing a plastic packet of vaccine in the center. The outer coating is designed to attract raccoons, which are vaccinated when they bite into the packet, exposing their gums to the vaccine. Each bait is marked with a toll-free number for reporting contact or seeking information.

In aerial operations, navigators carefully control bait machines to avoid dropping packets on roads, buildings, or water bodies. The aerial baits are plastic packets coated with a fish-scented substance to attract wildlife and are also labeled with a contact number: 1-877-722-6725.

While animal exposure to the vaccine is common, the ORV poses no risk of rabies to humans or pets. Mild digestive upset may occur in animals, but serious reactions are rare. If a bait is found, ADPH advises the public to:

• Handle it with gloves

• Move it to a wooded area where wildlife may find it

• Or dispose of it in the trash if necessary

Human contact with the vaccine may occasionally cause skin irritation. In such cases, washing with warm water and soap is recommended. For more serious reactions, individuals should call the number printed on the bait packet.

Dr. Dee W. Jones, Alabama's State Public Health Veterinarian, emphasized the importance of the program: "I understand the concern from citizens and owners when an ORV packet is found in an unintended place or when there is an unintended exposure, but I am hopeful that people keep the big picture in mind, and that is actually reducing the risk of rabies exposures in Alabama by vaccinating raccoons."

He added, "The vaccine packets have been proven to be very safe by historical data collected from incidental exposures. I believe the ORV program benefits public health, animal welfare and wildlife."

The ORV initiative is a collaborative effort involving the USDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ADPH, and other agencies. For more information, contact the USDA at 1-866-487-3297 or ADPH at 1-800-338-8374. Additional details are available at USDA's rabies program site.