THE OHIO departments of Health (ODH) and Natural Resources (ODNR), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services program and local health departments (LHDs) began fall oral rabies vaccination (ORV) operations Tuesday in 14 northeast and eastern Ohio counties.

As in past years, vaccine-bait distribution will take place in all of Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Jefferson, Lake, Mahoning and Trumbull counties and parts of Belmont, Carroll, Cuyahoga, Harrison, Monroe, Portage, and Summit counties.

Baits will be distributed by various methods in each county, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter and LHD staff in vehicles. Residents in the areas to be baited should be aware of low-flying aircraft and should keep children and pets away from the baits.

Baiting will cover 3,736 square miles of the state’s northeastern and eastern border. Two types of baits will be used. Airplanes will drop a small plastic sachet, about the size of a ketchup packet, coated in fishmeal.

In urban areas, the vaccine will be inside a hard, brown, 2 x 2-inch fishmeal block that will be distributed by vehicles staffed by LHD and other local agency volunteers. . Residents should avoid the baits and keep pets confined during the baiting period.

Dogs in particular are attracted to the baits and will occasionally eat them. The baits are not harmful to pets.

Residents are encouraged to keep the following information in mind:

– Know what the baits look like. The coated sachet, which will be distributed by aircraft, is about the size of a ketchup packet. It is white and rolled in a brown fishmeal glaze. In urban areas, where baits will be distributed by vehicle, the sachet will be inside a hard, brown fishmeal block, about 2-x-2-inch square.

– Instruct children to leave the baits alone.

– Once your area is baited, keep dogs and cats inside or on leashes for up to five days. Most baits disappear within 24 hours; however, it is important raccoons have every opportunity to eat them.

– Do not attempt to take bait away from your pet; you may be bitten.

– Anyone handling baits should wear gloves. If baits are found in areas frequented by pets or children, toss them into deeper cover. Damaged baits can be disposed of in the trash.

– If a person is exposed to the vaccine (red liquid), thoroughly wash any areas of the skin that came into contact with the vaccine with soap and water.

– If someone has been exposed to the vaccine or has questions about the baiting, call your LHD or ODH’s information line at 1-888-722-4371.

The rabies virus is found in the saliva of affected animals, most often raccoons, skunks and bats, and is spread by a bite or scratch. Bats, raccoons and skunks pose the greatest risk of rabies in Ohio.

Ohio’s partners in the multistate baiting are Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, in what is known as the Appalachian Ridge ORV program.

The third World Rabies Day will take place today, Sept. 28. The goal is to engage at least 55,000 people across the world to take action on this day one person participating for every human victim of rabies who died needlessly during the year.

More information is available at: www.worldrabiesday.org/

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A ONE-HOUR workshop focusing on the development of problem solving skills for better diabetes self-care will be held Thursday, September 2 at Harrison Community Hospital at 951 East Market Street, Cadiz.

Dr. Dan B. Jones, D.O., certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians will led the workshop. Dr. Jones will lead a discussion about some of the common problems that can arise for diabetic individuals. He will also explain was to effectively deal with the issues.

Dr. Jones has an office in Cadiz and is a member of the medical staff at Harrison Community Hospital.

The event is free to the public and no registration is required. Transportation is available with Harrison County Rural Transit at 740-942-1369.

The final workshop in this series will focus on healthy coping.

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MEMBERS OF the Cadiz Volunteer Fire Department are busy preparing for the upcoming firemen’s festival which is set to be held Sept. 18.

Running from the village square to the Clifford Fire Station, the event will begin at noon with food, rides, games, music and more.

A parade will be held at 5 p.m. that evening and will wind from East Warren Street through the square and onto West Market Street turning right at the former BP Gas Station and concluded at the fire station.

A cornhole tournament will also be held at 1 p.m.

Sedgmer may be reached at ksedgmer@timesleader online.com