Suffolk to drop oral vaccine packets against rabies for raccoons to consume next week

In an effort to reduce the growing cases of rabies among raccoons, Suffolk County will start distributing oral rabies vaccine packets in storm drains, sumps, woods and other locations starting Tuesday, officials said Thursday.

For the first time since 2009, rabid raccoons were found in Suffolk County this year. Eight were located in Amityville and one in Deer Park.

Nassau County has been battling its own resurgence of rabies with 25 animals — three cats and 22 raccoons — testing positive between June 2024 and July 2025. Officials there also employed the use of oral vaccine baits.

More than 250,000 oral rabies vaccine packets will be spread in locations that include residential areas raccoons frequent in the Towns of Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown and Islip. Workers in slow-moving, marked county vehicles will distribute the baits from Monday through Friday throughout the month of September.

The oral vaccine baits are shaped like ketchup packets and sprinkled with a fish meal coating that attracts raccoons. Once they consume it, the animal will be vaccinated against rabies.

The baits are not harmful for humans or pets, but experts said it’s best to avoid handling them. If one ends up in an open area, use gloves or a plastic bag to move it to a more wooded area, officials said.

Rabies is a viral disease that can spread to humans through bites or scratches from an infected animal. Experts advise anyone scratched or bitten by a wild or domestic animal to seek prompt treatment.

While rabies is considered endemic in New York State and throughout the country, "this is not the case in Suffolk County, thanks to prevention efforts that have been implemented over decades," Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott said in a statement.

Adding to some confusion, many raccoons on Long Island that appear ill have canine distemper, not rabies. Canine distemper does not pose a health threat to humans but can be potentially fatal for unvaccinated dogs and other pets.

Suffolk County’s Chief Public Health Sanitarian Stephen Kane said September is a good time to distribute oral rabies vaccine baits since young raccoons born in the spring will be looking for food.

Kane said the locations were selected to create "a barrier of vaccinated animals which will prevent the eastward spread of rabies virus," according to the news release.

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.