Oral rabies vaccine to be deployed via air drop in West Virginia

GHENT, WV (WVNS) — Officials with the Wildlife Service program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services announced they are working with the West Virginia State Department of Health to administer oral rabies vaccines to WV’s wildlife.

The distribution of oral rabies vaccines began on July 31, 2023 and will operate until August 31, 2023. During this period, Wildlife Service will be distributing oral rabies vaccines to vaccinate raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes via airplane, helicopter, or vehicle in many West Virginia counties including: Barbour, Brooke, Doddridge, Greenbrier, Fayette, Hancock, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Marshall, McDowell, Mercer, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers, Taylor, Tyler, Upshur, Webster, Wetzel, and Wyoming counties.

The vaccine will be administered…