Ashtabula County is one of 16 Ohio counties targeted in an ambitious state program aimed at halting an invasion of raccoon-borne rabies, officials said.

The assault will be done on land and in the air, and features a special fishbait treat that raccoons love laced with a rabies vaccine.

The city of Ashtabula and most of the county will start its baiting work early next week, said Sally Kennedy, Conneaut’s health commissioner. Conneaut will begin its attack on Sept. 8, she said.

East and northeast counties that border Pennsylvania and West Virginia are the battleground in the rabies war. Ohio health officials do not want the disease to cross those borders.

Rabies, a viral disease that affects mammals and people, is almost always fatal, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Raccoon-borne rabies surfaced in the 1970s and spread quickly through the eastern United States.

Baiting efforts have proven successful, according to the ODH. So far this year, only three rabid raccoons and skunks have been detected in Ohio, compared to 20 in 2007.

Ammunition in the state’s war depends on the location. Low-flying aircraft will drop fishbait inside little plastic packets, while ground crews will distribute bait shaped in two-inch square blocks. Baits will be placed by hand in heavily-populated areas, while customized airplanes and helicopters will cover rural regions.

In all, more than 977,000 vaccine-laced baits will be spread across the 16 counties, according to the ODH.

County residents should not handle or disturb any baits they may discover on their property, Kennedy said. If baits are found in areas frequented by kids or pets, pick it up wearing gloves and toss it into deeper cover.

People exposed to the vaccine in the bait, a red liquid, use wash the exposed area with soap and water, health officials said.

Pets should be kept on leashes a few days after baiting is completed, Kennedy said. People with questions or concerns should contact their local health department or the ODH at 1-888-722-4371.

Other counties receiving the full baiting treatment include Columbiana, Jefferson, Mahoning and Trumbull. Portions of Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Monroe, Noble, Washington, Geauga, Lake, Cuyahoga, Portage and Summit counties will also be treated.