Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Veterinary Directorate makes announcement on rabies vaccination

The statement announced that rabies vaccine baits will be dropped from the air, except for the island of Samothrace. The vaccination process is planned to be completed between October 2 and October 9, provided there are no delays due to adverse weather conditions.

The vaccine baits will be distributed in areas inhabited by wild animals, with urban areas, suburban areas, road networks, and lakes excluded from the vaccination campaign.

Small Brown Cubes

The bait, which contains the rabies vaccine, will be in the form of small, brown, fish-scented cubes. The Directorate emphasized that each bait contains a capsule or pouch with rabies vaccine solution, and the outside of the bait will be labeled with "CAUTION: RABIES VACCINE – DO NOT TOUCH," along with the phone number for the Disease Control and Prevention Center (KEELPNO) at 210-5212054.

Warnings for Citizens

In case baits are accidentally found in residential areas, fields, or areas of human activity, the following steps should be taken:

• Do not touch, destroy, or come into contact with the bait.
• Use disposable plastic gloves or a plastic bag to move the bait to a place where no animal or human can reach it, and immediately notify local veterinary authorities.
• What to Do If You Come Into Contact with a Vaccine Bait

The statement highlighted that the risk to humans arises only if the liquid inside the bait's capsule comes into contact with open wounds, cuts, the mouth, or the eyes.

If accidental contact occurs, the following actions should be taken:

• Wash the area that came into contact with the bait with plenty of water and soap. Alternatively, alcohol or iodine can be used.
• Wash any mucous membranes (such as eyes or mouth) with plenty of water if they come into contact with the vaccine.
• If contact with the bait's liquid occurs, seek medical attention immediately and take the bait in a plastic bag with you.
• If a pet or farm animal (such as a dog, cat, cow, sheep, etc.) finds a bait, do not attempt to remove it from their mouth, as it poses no danger to the animal. Simply guide the animal to release the bait.
• If you suspect the bait has been consumed by the animal, or you are unsure, try to wash the outside of the animal's mouth with soap and water while wearing gloves. Avoid handling the animal with bare hands for at least a day.