Hundreds of thousands of rabies vaccine baits distributed in northern Maine to combat spread of disease

State and federal officials are gearing up for the annual rabies vaccine baiting distribution in Maine, to help control the spread of rabies among raccoon populations. The US Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services is working with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to distribute a total of 365,000 oral vaccines through parts of Aroostook, Penobscot and Piscataquis counties from Aug. 5-10. Officials will also distribute another 50,000 in northern Franklin County. The bait will be spread by air and ground. Most bait resembles “a fishmeal-coated cube or sachet about one to two inches in size,” according to a statement. The baits distributed in Franklin County look like “a blister pack with a sweet, waxy coating. Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the bait but should not touch or move them,” the health department said.