Many people think that wild animals get vaccinated in veterinary clinics or that dangerous wildlife diseases are already completely in the past. In reality, state services regularly conduct large-scale special operations outdoors, and at the beginning of October the country awaits the next stage of immunization.
The штатний ветеринарний та продовольчий карний орган (state veterinary and food authority) announced the 54th campaign of oral vaccination of foxes against rabies. The process will cover a significant part of the country's territory and will be funded with the support of the European Union.
How the forest air drop works and which regions it will affect
The large-scale action will last from October 5 to October 23. During this period, special planes will drop vaccines from the air, flying at an altitude of about 150 meters. In total, 393,096 special baits of the LYSVULPEN type will be distributed during the autumn stage. They contain a weakened live strain of the SAD Bern virus, which forms immunity in animals.
The bait itself looks like a small ball or bar of black-brown color with a hard consistency. Inside it is a plastic blister with liquid vaccine. When a predator bites such a capsule, the shell breaks, the liquid gets on the mucous membrane of the mouth, and through the lymphatic system the animal develops protection against the dangerous disease.
The aerial distribution will be carried out from the airport in the city of Poprad and will cover the entire Prešovský and Košický kraj (regions), as well as the northern regions of the Žilinský kraj (region). At the same time, in several western and central districts of the country — including around Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra, Trenčín, or Zvolen — vaccination will not be conducted due to a more favorable epizootic situation and proximity to countries where the virus is not recorded. A detailed list of unaffected districts and the official announcement can be viewed on the website of Štátna veterinárna a potravinová správa Slovenskej republiky (State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic).
What to do if you find a capsule in the forest or yard
For people, the baits themselves under normal conditions do not pose a threat, but experts advise following clear safety rules during outdoor walks:
- Do not touch the find with your hands. If you come across such a ball in the forest or field, avoid it. Human scent on the bait surface scares foxes, so they may ignore the dose.
- Wash your hands thoroughly. If the shell was damaged and its contents accidentally got on your skin, immediately wash your hands with soap and water.
- See a doctor if there is contact with mucous membranes. If the liquid from the blister got into your eyes, nose, or mouth, seek medical help immediately.
- Protect your pets. During the bait distribution period and for two weeks after the campaign ends, owners should limit free roaming of dogs and cats in the vaccination area, as pets may compete with wild animals for food and eat the bait.
At the same time, veterinarians reassure pet owners: accidental swallowing of the vaccine by a dog or cat is not dangerous to their health, but it reduces the effectiveness of the state spraying. Current information on safety and the epidemic situation in the regions is also conveniently available through the catalog of services and companies for Ukrainians, which collects useful contacts and institutions.
