Overview

• On July 21, Nassau and Suffolk counties declared imminent public health threats following surveillance that detected a resurgence of rabies in wild mammals.
• Nassau County has identified 25 rabid animals in the past year, including raccoons and feral cats, marking a return of the virus after its 2016 elimination.
• Suffolk County reported six raccoon rabies cases in Amityville, its first recorded raccoon infections since 2009.
• Although no human infections have been reported, officials emphasize that rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear and that pets must stay up to date on vaccinations.
• The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation estimates more than 100 raccoons per square mile on Long Island, creating a substantial reservoir for the virus.