Nassau County officials are sounding the alarm over an uptick in rabies cases in the area. The county’s Department of Health has issued a formal declaration of an imminent public health threat due to the spread of rabies among wild and feral-domesticated animals.
At least 25 animals have tested positive for rabies since July last year, with raccoons and three feral cats being the primary carriers. This marks a significant resurgence of the disease, which had been eradicated in Nassau County in 2016 after aggressive control efforts.
According to Dr. Irina Gelman, Nassau County Health Commissioner, the surge in cases may be linked to reduced baiting and prevention measures along the Nassau-Queens border. To combat this, the Health Department will continue its Racoon Rabies Control Program this fall, which involves placing oral rabies vaccine baits across the county to immunize raccoons.
Residents can protect themselves by taking precautions such as seeking immediate medical care if bitten or scratched by an animal, reporting any pet bites or scratches to NCDOH, and reporting dead, sick, or abnormal-acting animals for possible collection and testing.
Source: https://abc7ny.com/post/nassau-county-warns-residents-spread-rabies-among-raccoons-feral-cats/17241269