CREST HAVEN – Cape May County not only has an aggressive rabies program, there is no program like it in the entire state, Cape May County Health Officer Kevin Thomas says.

Thomas says the county conducts a dual assault on rabies in wildlife and feral animals, hitting them from both land and air.

The county Health Department and county Department of Mosquito Control were at work in April targeting hot spots for wildlife and feral cats, such as trash areas at campgrounds, for rabies bait.

Mosquito Control also delivers bait – which contain a rabies vaccine – by way of its helicopter.

Gretchen Kruk, a public health investigator for the Health Department, leaves bait on the ground at places such as landfills and campgrounds. In the past, she said, it was easy to obtain permission to visit the campgrounds and place the baits. Now, she said, with more campgrounds being corporately owned, permission must be obtained from the owner for access to the grounds.

Otherwise, she said, the county does not place rabies baits on private property.

“We don’t do private homes. We’re not allowed to give baits to private homes. They have to get a private company,” she said.

Kruk said finding places to leave baits in areas such as Lower Township and Rio Grande is getting more difficult.

She said the majority of the more than 30,000 baits being distributed are handled by Mosquito Control.

Asked how they are delivered, Thomas said they are tossed out of the helicopter in areas where wildlife might congregate.

The Health Department also will target known raccoon hangouts such as storm drains.

“We will concentrate on wildlife areas – areas with a history of positive rabies,” Thomas said.

He said that Cape May is the only county in the state that runs a rabies baiting program.

“There are lots of areas in the West that do, but I don’t know of any other (New Jersey) county,” Thomas said.

He said Cape May County has a favorable geographic location when it comes to containing rabies. Being a peninsula, there is not be a lot of influx of animals other than along a fairly large border with Cumberland County.

An outbreaks of rabies where the disease was passed from animals to animals or animals to humans occurred in 2000. At that time, about 200 animals were confirmed to have the disease.

Leading up to April, which is the month for bait distribution, rabies cases are generally lower. This year, Thomas said, there were just two positive cases of rabies in animals. He said he believes that animal mothers are passing rabies immunity to their offspring, just as a dog might do.

Given that, and the natural water boundaries in the county, the rabies baiting program seems to be working, he said.

With the advent of summer, there are likely to be more dog bites and more exposure to rabies. Thomas said there are roughly two to three animal bites per day in the summer.

If a raccoon tangles with a dog, he said, the best-case action is to capture the raccoon for testing. As Kruk put it, they “decap” the raccoon or other animal because rabies shows up in the brain. Thomas said Health Department couriers will transport the animal’s head to the state lab in Trenton, and in a day or two the results will be relayed to the dog’s owner or the human victim.

In the case of people, someone who is bitten by an animal suspected to be rabid would likely have to go to the emergency room to get rabies shots. A bitten pet would likely be taken to its veterinarian for a rabies booster. Otherwise, the pet would have to be quarantined for a time.

Kruk said the rabies baits will not harm a dog if it eats them, but consuming about five of them could lead to loose bowel movements.

In New Jersey, residents can get rabies vaccinations for cats and dogs through free clinics. The next one in Cape May County will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Middle Township Public Works Building, 400 W. Mechanic St., Cape May Court House.

Rabies Facts

Only mammals, including people, can get rabies. Rabies occurs most often in wildlife, particularly raccoons, bats, skunks, groundhogs and foxes. These animals represent 95% of the cases in the United States.

In New Jersey, cats account for the vast majority of domestic animal rabies cases. Farm animals, dogs and other domestic pets can also become infected, so residents are advised to take measures to keep wild animals from entering houses, barns and garages.

Rabid animals are usually either vicious and aggressive, or appear to be drunk and have trouble walking. Some animals may be rabid even though they appear to be normal. People should stay away from all wild and stray animals that are aggressive or appear to be sick.

Disease and Symptoms in People

Rabies is a communicable disease that is caused by a virus usually transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. The disease, often fatal, is characterized by:

• Delirium, with death due to paralysis
• Fever
• Headache
• Malaise
• Paralysis

Residents with questions about the county’s wild animal rabies vaccination program can call the Health Department at 609-465-1209. For more information on animal rabies, go to the Environmental Division at http://www.cmchealth.net; to receive information on public health news and local events, “like” the Cape May County Department of Health on Facebook.

Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.