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(Mineola, NY) — Nassau County is declaring rabies a public health threat following a resurgence in rabid animal cases for the first time since 2016.
Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman’s declaration comes after three feral cats and 22 raccoons tested positive for rabies over the past year, with more samples out for testing. The cats were all found near Queens in 2024, with two sighted in Valley Stream and another in Cedarhurst. She says the declaration allows Nassau to resume the countywide rabies raccoon baiting program this fall. Suffolk County will implement a similar program.
Gelman says people should not panic, but is urging the public to avoid contact with wild and feral animals and ensure their pets have updated vaccines. Rabies is a viral disease that can be spread to humans and pets if an infected animal bites, scratches or their saliva contacts the eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound. So far, there are no reports of any human rabies cases in Nassau.
Earlier this summer, officials in Suffolk County also reported a rise in rabies cases after 15 years without any. For pet owners, the best thing to do is ensure their animal is vaccinated and keep it away from wildlife, according to the commissioner.
