Mineola, NY – The Nassau County Department of Health (NCDOH) has confirmed that a racoon collected in Roslyn Heights has tested positive for rabies. This is the fifth rabid animal identified in Nassau County this year, following previous cases involving feral cats and raccoons collected in Cedarhurst, Valley Stream, and Hewlett. Residents are advised to avoid contact with wild or feral animals, and to ensure their pets are up-to-date with their rabies vaccinations.
“While the presence of another rabid animal is concerning, this discovery underscores the need for awareness, not alarm,” said Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman. “By remaining cautious, avoiding direct contact with unknown animals, and ensuring pets are properly vaccinated, residents can greatly reduce their risk and help keep our community safe from rabies.”
In September, NCDOH had implemented additional rabies control measures as part of our ongoing control program, which distributed rabies vaccine bait in the southwest quadrant of Nassau County as a preventive measure to control rabies among wild animals. NCDOH is currently seeking additional funds from New York State Department of Health to expand distribution throughout the County.
Rabies is a viral disease that is spread to humans and pets primarily through bites, scratches, or salivary contact from an infected animal. To protect yourself from possible exposure to rabies:
- Don't feed or touch wild animals, stray cats, or dogs, and discourage them from seeking food near your home.
- Ensure pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations, including dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, and livestock. Pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors and allowed outside only under direct observation.
- Keep family pets indoors at night. Don't leave them outside unattended or let them roam free.
- Advise your family against approaching any unknown animal – wild or domestic – especially those acting abnormally.
- If a wild animal is on your property, immediately bring children and pets indoors and let it wander away. You may contact a nuisance wildlife control expert who will remove the animal for a fee.
- Do not touch dying or dead animals. If you must move them, use a shovel, wear heavy rubber gloves, double bag the carcass, and place it in your outdoor trash can.
Individuals bitten or scratched by any animal should seek immediate medical care and then call NCDOH at 516-227-9663 (or 516-742-6154 afterhours, including weekends). No human cases of rabies have been reported in Nassau County to date due to the availability and effectiveness of immediate post-exposure prophylaxis treatment.
Residents should report if their pets have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal to NCDOH. Residents are also asked to report any dead, sick, or abnormal acting animals by emailing rabies@nassaucountyny.gov for possible collection and rabies testing.
For additional information on rabies visit the Nassau County Department of Health website.