Rabies in Nassau County: Be on guard, but do not panic, health commissioner says
The growing number of rabies cases among wildlife and some feral animals in Nassau County is no reason to panic, officials said Tuesday.
But Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman says she does want the public to be on guard against the potentially deadly disease.
"There is no cause for alarm as we have not yet received any reports of human transmission," Gelman said during a news conference Tuesday morning at the Nassau County headquarters in Mineola.
"However, the time for prevention is now," she said. "The goal is to keep our residents informed and safe."
She said 25 animals had tested positive for rabies since June 2024 — three feral cats and 22 raccoons. The most recent rabid raccoons were found this month in Rockville Centre and North Baldwin and additional animals are now being tested, she said.
"This is a concerning trend, especially given the fact that rabies were effectively eradicated in the county after 2016," Gelman said.
Rabies is considered a rare but potentially deadly disease that can be passed to humans by the bite or scratch of an infected animal, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who have made contact with a rabid animal but received prompt treatment can avoid serious illness.
Six rabid raccoons also have been discovered in Suffolk County this year, all in Amityville.
On Monday, the Nassau County Health Department officially declared rabies an "imminent public health threat," which allows them to secure resources 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.
Vaccinating pets vital
Gelman said that had included all parts of Nassau — from Massapequa to Old Brookville and Great Neck to Atlantic Beach. A countywide vaccine baiting program will take place in the fall.
Keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccination is vital, she said. Gelman also urged people to keep themselves and their dogs away from wildlife.
"We don't want domesticated animals to act as a vector of transmission of rabies to their human owners," she said.
Experts said the resurgence of rabies in Nassau could be due to many factors. Previous efforts to distribute fish-flavored bait with the vaccine inside may have helped reduce rabies cases in raccoons in the region. But since it is not done on a regular basis, that immunity wanes.
Gelman said New York City's decision to stop baiting in 2024 — which County Executive Bruce Blakeman mentioned earlier this year — may also have contributed to the rabies spread in Nassau County.
The city Health Department has said it baited certain areas in April and there are plans to resume citywide baiting in the fall.
"The fact that you have been able to eliminate rabies doesn't mean it's done forever," said Liliana Dávalos, a professor at Stony Brook University’s Department of Ecology and Evolution.
"New kits are born without immunity because they have not received the vaccine and they have not been exposed to the virus," she said. "The population is vulnerable."
Even with the best vaccines, there are gaps in the system, said Gary Whittaker, a professor of virology at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine.
"Populations can be pretty dynamic and they'll come and go for various reasons," he said. "You have to keep aware and keep the pressure on the system to keep the number of cases down as much as we can."
People who feed outdoor cats should wear gloves and take precautions because the virus can be transmitted through saliva, Whittaker said.
And experts reiterated the importance of people seeking medical care immediately after being bitten or scratched by a wild or domesticated animal.
"Rabies is nothing to trifle with," Dávalos said. "By the time you have symptoms, it's fatal."
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.
Sarra Sounds Off: Soccer scene and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Jolie Katzen and Michael Sicoli recap the girls and boys soccer scene, and Jared Valluzzi has a look at the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off: Soccer scene and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Jolie Katzen and Michael Sicoli recap the girls and boys soccer scene, and Jared Valluzzi has a look at the plays of the week.
