Second rabid raccoon found in Suffolk this week came into contact with a person in Babylon

A person was exposed to a raccoon in Babylon on Wednesday that later tested positive for rabies, the second instance of a raccoon carrying the deadly virus found in Suffolk County this week, county health officials said.

The rabid animals — the first was found dead in Bay Shore — bring the number of confirmed terrestrial rabies cases in the county to 44 since February 2025, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services said in a news release Saturday.

In Babylon, the raccoon was found outside a residence on Wednesday after an individual noticed that the animal appeared to be ill, the health department said.

The person came into contact with the raccoon and sought medical attention, health officials said. The individual is currently in good health. There were no reported pet exposures.

Authorities later located the raccoon and transported it for testing to the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center in Albany.

In Bay Shore, a resident found a dead raccoon on their property earlier this week, the health department said. That animal was also transported for testing. There were no reported exposures involving people or pets in that case.

Officials were notified of the positive test results on Friday, the health department said.

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and can result in death if untreated. The disease is most common in wild animals, including raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes, though any mammal can become infected, the health department said.

Health officials said residents who see a raccoon behaving "abnormally" are asked to contact the Suffolk County Police Department's non-emergency line at 631-852-COPS or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 631-444-0250.

Precautions for protecting people and pets against rabies include avoiding contact with wild and stray animals, vaccinating pets for rabies, observing pets while outdoors, and keeping property free of foods that could attract wild animals, according to the health department.