By Esteban Fernandez, Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT — Public health officials will airdrop oral rabies vaccine bait around Morgantown after an individual was bitten by a rabid raccoon on Thursday in Monongalia County.
“The airdrop that covers most of Monongalia County also takes place in August, because the USDA wants to wait until animals born in the spring are old enough to eat the baits and be inoculated,” Jenifer Costolo-Michael, Monongalia County Health Department environmental health program director, said. “We’ll also ask them to specifically target the area where this raccoon was found.”
The Mon Health Department reported the raccoon was trapped in the New Hill Community off of Route 7 near the Meadow Ponds development. It tested positive for rabies.
Officials began measures to ensure an outbreak of rabies didn’t take place in the region.
