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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Anne Arundel County Department of Health will start deploying bait containing a rabies vaccine for raccoons.
Health officials will begin distributing the bait on Sept. 1 throughout the county.
The bait comes in two forms: one looks like a ketchup packet with a light brown waxy coating; the other is on a tiny brown brick with a small package inside.
The bait will be distributed in neighborhoods by teams, or from a low-flying county police helicopter in less-populated areas.
Health officials say the vaccine is not harmful to raccoons, pets or other animals. Authorities say the vaccine has a low health risk to humans, and pregnant women, anyone under 18, with a compromised immune system or with a chronic skin condition should not handle the bait.
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