The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

August 31, 2012

Experimental rabies bait proving effective

By Tina Alvey Register-Herald Reporter

LEWISBURG — An innovative rabies bait being tested in Greenbrier County has exceeded all expectations, according to a USDA official’s report.

Wildlife biologist John Houber spoke to the Greenbrier County Commission Tuesday evening, telling them the new vaccine “has a much greater efficiency” than the bait that is used more widely in the U.S.

While a first year effectiveness rate of 15 percent is expected with a rabies vaccine, Houber said the effectiveness rate in the first trial of ONRAB in the Greenbrier Valley was nearly 50 percent.

Thanks to the success of initial testing in Greenbrier County last year, the ONRAB vaccine is now in trials in three additional study sites — Virginia, Ohio and the St. Lawrence Seaway region, Houber said.

The additional studies, coupled with a second year of trials in West Virginia, will allow USDA scientists to confirm the early results, he noted.

“(We have to) collect a whole truckload of data,” Houber told the commissioners.

In last year’s ONRAB trial, some 80,000 doses of the vaccine were dropped in Greenbrier County, marking the first field study of bait that had previously proven quite effective in Canada.

Houber expressed appreciation to the commissioners and the county’s property owners for their cooperation and support of the vaccine study.

He said reports of sick animals in Greenbrier County have dropped, as expected, in the wake of last fall’s bait drop, although calls to the 911 center did pick up in July and August.

According to Houber, there has been only one skunk test positive for rabies in Greenbrier County this year, and that animal was found outside the bait drop area.

By contrast, more than 40 rabies cases were confirmed in the county in 2009, when the problem reached its peak, prompting the commission to seek federal and state assistance.

In other business:

-- The commission approved the change of control of Suddenlink cable company, after receiving assurances from the firm’s Jack Ozminkowski that only the high-level investors will change, while the staff, call center and channel lineup will remain the same.

-- Chief Deputy County Clerk Robin Loudermilk reported a change in polling places for precincts 45 and 46, which the commission approved. Voters in those two precincts will now cast ballots at the Lewisburg United Methodist Church due to the closing of the old Lewisburg Elementary School, which formerly provided space for the polling places.

-- The commission approved a revised flood plain ordinance required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order for the county to maintain its residents’ eligibility for flood insurance.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com

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