The number of animal cases of canine-strain rabies has dropped from a high of 142 in 1995 to 10 in 1999 to zero through November 2000. The last animal canine rabies case occurred in September 1999 in Starr County. No human cases of canine rabies have been recorded since 1994, and no animal cases have been recorded outside the bait drop containment zone. TDH executive deputy commissioner Dr. Charles Bell emphasized that the vaccine drops are done to protect people, not coyotes. The more animal cases of rabies we have, the greater the risk to humans.
Rabies is fatal to animals and humans once symptoms of the disease develop.
Bell said TDH projections show the South Texas canine rabies outbreak would have spread to Beaumont, Houston, Waco, Austin and San Angelo by now if the bait drops had not been done. Baits will not be dropped in cities or near residences. The vaccine baits are not harmful to humans or domestic animals. Personnel from TDH, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service and the Texas National Guard are participating in the airdrop. South Texas is the only place in the United States where the canine variant of the rabies virus has been found.