Depending on where you are in the world, the rabies virus infects and is carried in a variety of different species. In most cases, human deaths are caused by bites from unvaccinated dogs. Other species that commonly harbor rabies viruses are the mongoose, the red fox, the artic fox, the vampire bat, and others.

In addition to the United States, RABORAL V-RG® is also being used to control raccoon rabies in eastern Canada. The same vaccine is contained within tallow-based baits and is distributed in raccoon environments adjacent to US borders. In Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) treated areas of Ontario, ORV programs and trap-vaccinate-release efforts have effectively controlled red fox rabies and reduced the incidence of raccoon rabies cases.

Experimental ORV programs using RABORAL V-RG® are taking place around the world. The overall goal of such programs is to evaluate the vaccine globally, thereby reducing the incidence of rabies in wild animals and subsequently reducing the rabies risk to humans. These ORV programs are conducted by governmental agencies or institutions associated with rabies control.

In Israel, red fox and golden jackal populations are the primary target species for ORV. Since 1998 this experimental program has successfully reduced the number of human rabies cases caused by the red fox strain. Geographic areas in which baits have been distributed in the spring and fall of each year remain free of rabies cases.

In Sri Lanka, the combination of conventional rabies vaccines and ORV in specific target areas has eliminated human deaths. Areas adjacent to the ORV zones continue to have rabies outbreaks. The final goal of this program, initiated in the year 2000, is to eliminate canine rabies from this island nation.

During 2004, the first doses of RABORAL V-RG® were shipped to Tanzania. This study was undertaken to determine if ORV can supplement conventional rabies immunization of community-owned dogs in Africa. The program follows WHO guidelines and was intended to be a pilot program for other African nations attemping to reduce human fatalities due to rabies.

In the Ukraine, the primary ORV target species is the red fox. Since 2002 surveillance data from areas treated with RABORAL V-RG® demonstrate reduced rabies prevalence in this species.

Since the year 2000, a South Korea ORV program has prevented outbreaks of rabies in populations of raccoon dogs and red foxes.