State and federal officials are preparing to distribute oral rabies vaccines across western North Carolina to help stop the spread of the deadly virus.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, vaccine baits will be dropped by air and distributed by ground crews beginning this week. The baits are designed to attract wildlife, which then eat them and gain protection from rabies.
Low-flying aircraft will drop the baits between April 8th and April 23rd across multiple counties, including Avery, Mitchell, Madison and Yancey. Helicopter distribution is scheduled for areas including Asheville, Burnsville, Mars Hill and Waynesville, with ground crews working in Asheville during the same time frame.
Officials say about 600-thousand baits will be distributed across North Carolina as part of a larger effort across the Southeast.
The vaccine packets are considered safe for pets, but residents are urged not to touch them. If contact does occur, officials recommend washing hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Rabies is most commonly spread through raccoons but can infect many animals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus attacks the nervous system and is almost always fatal in humans if not treated before symptoms begin.
The program is part of a long-running effort to create a barrier against rabies spreading westward through the Appalachian region.