Anne Arundel County’s health department will begin its annual Oral Rabies Vaccine Program in October as part of a continued effort to curb the spread of rabies among terrestrial wildlife and protect residents and pets from the threat of rabid animals.

The program distributes liquid rabies vaccine in small, ketchup packet-like pouches coated with fishmeal to attract animals. The vaccine is effective for raccoons, coyotes and other wildlife species.

Thomas Burja, a zoonotic disease specialist with the county’s health department, noted that many residential areas in the county are near wooded or marshy habitats, creating an ideal environment for raccoons and increasing their proximity to people.

This proximity is concerning, because it increases the risk of rabies spreading easily.

Rabies is “a viral zoonotic disease that causes progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord,” according to the World Health Organization website.

It can be transmitted to humans and other mammals through bites, scratches or direct contact with the saliva of an infected animal. The virus is found in the saliva, brain tissue and spinal fluid of rabid animals.

In the mid- to late 1990s, Anne Arundel County experienced a high number of rabid terrestrial animals. In 1997, before the Oral Rabies Vaccine Program began, the county recorded 97 rabid animals, leading the state by a wide margin, according to Burja.

This prompted the launch of a pilot program on the Annapolis peninsula in 1998. By 2011, the county had reduced the number of documented rabid animals to just three, but despite this success, it lost federal funding.

During the program’s two-year hiatus, rabies cases surged to nearly 30.

“It was during that time that some of the local veterinary groups and some local [residents] went to the county governments and asked why aren’t we doing this program anymore?” Burja said.

In response, the county reinstated the program in 2014, funding it through the health department’s operating budget.

In recent years, approximately 84,500 baits have been dropped; they have increased slightly, to more than 90,000 baits, according to Burja.

Some baits, distributed by a ground team, are placed in raccoon habitats such as storm drains, near dumpsters, stream beds and wooded areas. Using the county’s Police Aviation Unit helicopters, other baits are dropped in.

As the team distributes the vaccine, GPS is used to track the location of each bait on iPads carried by teams in the field. They can view current and past rabies cases, along with wildlife sightings, to identify optimal spots for dropping the baits in targeted areas, Burja said.

“We try not to place baits where any dogs or kids or people would find the baits,” Burja said.

The baits themselves cannot cause rabies. They are safe for pets, although they might cause stomach irritation and potentially lead to diarrhea or vomiting in dogs, Burja said.

After baiting occurs, traps are set in multiple locations. The animal’s blood is tested for antibodies against rabies and the opportunity to vaccinate is taken if needed. Then, the animal is released back into the wild.

Residents are encouraged to use the county website to document a wildlife sighting in the area. Some people will trap wildlife and release it elsewhere, Burja said.

“They’ll take it, and they’ll release it somewhere else. They don’t want to kill it. Well, essentially, you’ll be moving rabies from one place to another,” Burja said.

To help prevent the spread of rabies, keep pet rabies vaccinations current, avoid exposure to wild and stray animals and use proper trash containers with tight-fitting lids.