Nassau County has raised alarms about rabies posing an “immediate public health threat” in Long Island, with health officials suggesting the cases may be traced back to New York City.
“The situation is worsening, which is part of why we declared this. Historically, we haven’t witnessed this along the Queens-Nassau border,” remarked county health commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman, referring to last year’s discovery of 22 rabid raccoons and three wild cats.
“New York City had a strong eradication program… but they ran out of funding and had to halt their efforts along the Nassau-Kings border. Unfortunately, some raccoons began to migrate, and, well, you know how it goes from there,” she added somewhat resignedly.
Nassau had managed to eliminate rabies since 2016 until this recent outbreak. Meanwhile, Suffolk County, which saw six cases near their shared border recently, hasn’t had any terrestrial cases since 2009.
“We may still find more cases in the wild. We’ve already documented 25, indicating a broader spread,” she explained.
“At first, it’s not just concerning due to the high number of cases we’ve collected over the year—it’s the expansive spread and involvement of domesticated animals as well,” she noted, almost as if contemplating the implications.
According to Gelman, the three stray cats serve as “intermediaries,” which raises alarms for wildlife, pet owners, and their families. These cats were located near Queens in 2024, with two found in a valley creek and one in Cedarhurst.
Officials have released a social media alert regarding a rabies incident involving a dead raccoon in North Amityville.
“When people spot a cat in the yard, they often don’t react as strongly as they would to a wild animal,” she cautioned, highlighting the potential danger for children who might unknowingly engage with a rabid cat instead of informing their parents.
Nearly 20 raccoons have been reported throughout Nassau, affecting areas like Roslyn Heights, Old Brookville, West Hempstead, and a few others.
The Massapequa and Farmingdale regions, close to six confirmed cases in Suffolk, have experienced eight reported incidents since July 2024. Just this July, there were two confirmed cases each in North Baldwin and Rockville Center.
“We are implementing vital measures to safeguard residents, their families, and pets from this perilous virus,” stated Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Gelman confirmed that there have been no transmissions reported among sick individuals in Nassau County.
The next crucial move involves the drop of edible rabies vaccine baits, which the counties plan to distribute again following their previous spring efforts.
Suffolk County will also be carrying out similar bait drops in towns like Babylon, Islip, Huntington, and Smithtown.
“Both Nassau and Suffolk are collaborating to combat the spread, especially where there are wildlife shelters aiming to manage the raccoon population,” Gelman explained.
She noted that the bait used is quite fishy—more appealing to raccoons than to dogs.
According to Gelman, seeing raccoons during daylight isn’t a sure sign of rabies, as they are often just foraging for food.
Behaviors that are erratic, however, can be a clearer warning sign of rabies.
For pet owners, the essential action is to ensure pets are vaccinated and kept away from wild animals.
“Now’s the time for prevention,” she advised. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment, and that’s precisely our goal here.”
