Mineola, NY – The Nassau County Department of Health (NCDOH) will begin distributing oral rabies vaccine baits to prevent the spread of the disease among wildlife in Nassau County. This baiting effort comes after earlier reports of two feral cats and one raccoon testing positive for rabies in the southwest corner of Nassau County.
What: The Nassau County Department of Health (NCDOH) will distribute rabies vaccine baits. The bait is specifically designed to attract raccoons and includes a vaccine packet that immunizes the animals upon consumption.
When: Vaccine bait distribution is scheduled for September 23-27, 2024, weather permitting.
Where: Baits will be distributed in parts of the following communities: Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence, Valley Stream and Woodmere. Distribution will occur in raccoon habitats, including wooded areas, streambeds, storm drains, and other areas where raccoons are likely to be found.
Why: Rabies has been detected in two feral cats and a raccoon in Nassau County, with the cats testing positive for a strain typically found in raccoons. The program’s efforts aim to prevent further transmission among wildlife and protect residents.
How: Raccoons are attracted to the scent of the bait and will be immunized upon ingestion of the vaccine packet.
Public Recommendations:
The Nassau County Departments of Health recommends:
- To avoid inadvertent contact with the baits, supervise children’s outdoor activities both during and for approximately one week following the bait distribution.
- Keep all dogs and cats indoors or on leashes during the bait distribution and for about a week afterwards. This will allow raccoons to eat the vaccine-laden baits and become immunized and will decrease the chance of pets eating the baits.
- The baits are not harmful to dogs or cats, but a pet may vomit if they eat a large number of them. Do not try to remove a packet from an animal’s mouth.
- Call the Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222 immediately in the unlikely event that a child bites through the packet and ingests the liquid or if anyone has direct contact with the bait. Call if you have seen your pet with bait in its mouth.
- Wash hands immediately after bare-hand contact with the bait, even if the bait is intact, and then call Poison Control Center. The bait packet itself will not harm anyone.
- If residents find bait near their homes, but not in the open, leave it alone. The bait packets have a strong fishmeal smell that is not attractive to people or to most other animals.
- If the bait is intact and out in the open where pets or children are more likely to encounter it, toss it into deeper cover under trees or bushes while wearing gloves or using a plastic bag.
- Residents who see raccoons should NOT try to trap the raccoons themselves. Call a licensed trapper.
For additional information regarding rabies and the baiting program, including distribution map and photo of the bait, visit the Department’s rabies website here: Rabies & Animal Bites | Nassau County, NY - Official Website (nassaucountyny.gov)
Previously issued press releases on the recent rabies cases and information on preventing rabies exposure can be found here and here.