A public health threat has been declared on Long Island due to the spread of rabies, with Nassau County officials pointing fingers at New York City for the outbreak. The confirmed 22 rabid raccoons and three feral cats found in the past year are indicative of a wider spread of the disease.
According to Dr. Irina Gelman, Health Commissioner of Nassau County, NYC’s eradication program funding dried up, allowing some raccoons to migrate from Queens to Nassau, resulting in the outbreak. Suffolk County has also reported six cases near its shared border with Nassau, making it a terrestrial threat since 2009.
The three feral cats found in Queens are considered a key vector between wildlife and humans, as well as pets. Children may unknowingly interact with rabid cats, leading to potential transmission of the disease.
Nassau County has reported no human transmissions of the virus so far. To combat the spread, the county is distributing edible rabies vaccine baits in residential areas near wildlife refuges this fall. Suffolk County will also be conducting bait drops in their western towns.
Pet owners are advised to keep their animals vaccinated and away from wildlife to prevent transmission. Dr. Gelman emphasizes that prevention is key, stating “One ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/07/22/us-news/rabies-now-an-imminent-public-health-threat-on-long-island-health-official-points-finger-at-nyc