USAHA News
United States Animal Health Association
Contact - Larry Mark - (703) 451-3954 - ldmark@erols.com


For immediate release:

RABIES CONTROL PROGRAMS DISCUSSED

	MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Oct. 18, 2006 -- Programs to control rabies in wildlife 
highlighted discussions at the meeting of the U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) 
Committee on Public Health and Rabies here this week.

	There are ongoing efforts in Texas, the Northeast and Arizona targeting rabies 
in coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons and dogs.  Rabies virus host shifts are a concern.  
Examples of this include bat-strain rabies in skunks in Arizona and an increasing number 
of skunks found with raccoon-strain rabies.

	Translocation of rabid animals also remains a problem.  When the disease jumps 
across a barrier, resources need to be diverted to the new outbreak site or else previous 
efforts could be negated.  Rabies control efforts involve an integrated strategy as no one 
method will be successful by itself.  Components of the integrated system include oral 
vaccination, trap-vaccinated-release, population reduction and, in the future, contraception.  

	Another factor in a successful program involves addressing North America as a 
whole.  Disease issues in both Canada and Mexico need to be addressed in order for U.S. 
programs to be successful.  The web link for rabies issues is www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/rabies.

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