Rabies in Nassau County declared 'imminent public health threat,' officials say

Rabies is now an "imminent public health threat" in Nassau County, officials said Monday, warning residents to protect their pets and stay away from wild animals.

Surveillance shows the virus is circulating throughout the county, which has collected and confirmed 25 rabid animals since July 2024. That number includes both raccoons and feral cats.

Six rabid raccoons have also been discovered in Suffolk County this year, all in the Amityville area.

Rabies is a rare but potentially deadly disease that can be passed to humans by the bite or scratch of an infected animal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who have contact with a rabid animal but receive prompt treatment can avoid serious illness. The agency said fewer than 10 humans die every year from the virus in the United States.

"The resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving public health concern," Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said in a statement. "This declaration allows us to respond to prevent further spread and protect the health and safety of Nassau County residents."

Specifically, the declaration allows the county to secure resources from the state and conduct activities to address and abate the threat, officials said. That includes spreading rabies vaccine baits in areas where infected animals have been found. Nassau has previously dropped rabies vaccine bait in several regions of the county.

Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott has said the county plans to do its own rabies baiting program in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.

Before these new cases, Nassau County had not had a recorded case of rabies in a raccoon since 2016.

And before the six raccoons in the Amityville area, the last rabies-infected raccoon in Suffolk was found in 2009. Several bats have tested positive for the virus in recent years.

Experts said several factors may contribute to the resurgence of rabies in the region. Long Island has a large raccoon population, and most reported cases in the country come from raccoons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Wildlife is also becoming more acclimated to the urban environment, possibly causing more interaction between people, their pets and wildlife.

"Rabies can be effectively prevented by vaccination in humans and domestic animals but remains a significant wildlife management and public health challenge in the US," according to the U.S. National Plan for Wildlife Rabies Management, overseen by the USDA.

"I think people are more likely to report animals that are acting abnormal because it is easier and they are more aware," said Dr. Carly Fox, senior veterinarian at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center’s emergency and critical care service in Manhattan.

"But they also need to know that if they think that there is any possibility that they could have been bitten or scratched by an animal that could have been exposed to rabies, they need to get treated immediately," Fox said.

She said veterinary professionals who are bitten will usually get the post-exposure prophylactic injections just to be safe.

"It's fatal if you don't get treated," she said.

Fox pointed out that rabies is a mandated vaccine in the state, so owners of both dogs and cats need to make sure their pets are vaccinated and stay updated with boosters.

Health officials urged the public against feeding or coming in contact with wild animals, stray cats or dogs. Along with pet dogs and cats, other animals that should be vaccinated against rabies include ferrets, horses and livestock.

Both Nassau and Suffolk health departments said anyone bitten or scratched by a wild animal should seek immediate medical care and then report the incident. In Nassau County, call the health department at 516-227-9663. Call 631-854-0333 for the Suffolk Health Department.

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.