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Anatomy Of The Cape Cod Oral Rabies Vaccination Program, Timothy P. Algeo, Richard B. Chipman, Brian M. Bjorklund, Monte D. Chandler, Xingtai Wang, Dennis Slate, Charles E. Rupprecht

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rabies remains a globally significant zoonotic disease, but rabies control is achievable under certain circumstances. Canine rabies has been eliminated from the U.S.; however, approximately 55,000 humans die annually worldwide from the disease. In the U.S., economic losses continue to be substantial and the risk to humans and domestic animals has not been eliminated. As an example of the complexity of rabies management, we describe a local rabies control program and efforts to restore Cape Cod, MA to terrestrial rabies-free status, after a 2004 oral rabies vaccination (ORV) barrier breach following 10 years of rabies-free status. The emergence of raccoon …