North Carolina launches oral rabies vaccine in Western Region
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services plan to prevent the spread of rabies with an oral rabies vaccine.
Starting the week of Mar. 31, 2025, Wildlife Services will be distributing an annual oral rabies vaccine for raccoons in Western North Carolina. This program usually takes place annually each fall but has been delayed in 2024 due to Hurricane Helene.
'Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease, and this program plays a critical role in protecting both public health and animal populations across North Carolina,' DVM, State Public Health Veterinarian Carl Williams said. 'By vaccinating wildlife like raccoons, we create a barrier that helps stop the spread of the virus — keeping people, pets and communities safer.'
Starting on Tuesday, April 2, 2025, baits containing the oral rabies vaccine will be aerially distributed in these counties: Ash, Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey. There will be additional hand baiting in Buncombe County on April 3-9, weather depending.
The baits consist of a sachet, or plastic packet, that contains the oral rabies vaccine. The packets are sprinkled with a fishmeal coating or are encased inside hard fishmeal-polymer blocks about the size of a matchbox to make them more attractive to raccoons. Once the raccoon bites into the bait and is exposed to the vaccine, the animal's immune system is activated to produce antibiotics that provide protection against rabies infection.
Please report any sick or dead wild animals to the NC Wildlife Helpline at 1-866-318-2401 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or anytime via email at HWI@ncwildlife.org. If you come into contact with the liquid vaccine, call the number listed. The vaccine will not harm domestic dogs or cats but is only approved for use on raccoons and coyotes. Contact your local veterinarian to get your pet vaccinated against rabies.
Baiting should be completed by the end of April 2025.
For more information, please visit the National Rabies Management Program webpage. To learn more about rabies, visit the NCDHHS Division of Public Health website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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