Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
June 2006
Abstract
Rabies is one of the oldest known viral diseases, presenting a significant wildlife, domestic-animal, and public-health management challenge. According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 90 percent of rabies cases reported in the United States each year are found in wildlife. The cost of living with rabies in the United States is thought to exceed $300 million annually, including the use of domestic-animal vaccinations, postexposure treatment of bite victims, and prevention programs. Oral rabies vaccination of wildlife is a key component of Federal and State cooperative rabies management programs. The goal of this multi-State effort is to stop the spread of this deadly disease.