New Yorkers are facing an ‘imminent public health threat’ linked to a virus that parts of the state had eliminated years ago.
Rabies is making a comeback in Nassau County – an area on Long Island about 30 miles east of New York City – with new infections among animals becoming ‘widespread,’ according to county health officials, who warn the city and island’s 11 million residents should be on alert.
‘The resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving public health concern,’ said Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr Irina Gelman.
There have been 25 cases of rabies in animals over the past 12 months. Four additional suspected cases are currently being tested. Rabies has not yet infected any people in the area.
Still, Gelman declared an ‘imminent public health threat,’ which means the county can allocate more resources to disease mitigation and prevention efforts. The virus, public health officials believe, has migrated from New York City, where funding for rabies infection prevention in animals in the area has dried up.
Rabies is estimated to cause 59,000 human deaths annually in over 150 countries, with most cases occurring in Africa and Asia. According to the World Health Organization, this number is likely a gross underestimate.
Human infections are rare in the US, with fewer than 10 cases reported annually, largely due to widespread animal vaccinations, effective public health measures, and the availability of post-exposure care that can save patients.
Without prompt treatment, though, nearly 100 percent of patients infected with the virus die.
There have been 25 cases of rabies in animals over the past 12 months. Four additional suspected cases are currently being tested
To avoid infection, health officials advise against feeding or touching wild animals, stray cats, or dogs.
Additionally, they recommend keeping pets up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and keeping puppies too young to receive the vaccine indoors, only allowing them outside if someone is supervising them.
They also told residents to spread the word about avoiding wild animals, especially those acting abnormally.
If a wild animal gets onto your property, they advise people to bring pets and young children inside until the animal is removed and contact an animal control expert to safely remove it.
And they said not to touch dead or dying animals. If they need to be moved, use a shovel to double-bag them and leave them in an outdoor garbage bin.
Rabies can spread to humans or pets through bites, scratches, or contact with saliva from an infected animal, particularly when it comes into contact with open wounds, eyes, nose, or mouth.
The virus is most commonly seen in raccoons, skunks, and foxes, but three feral cats that traveled from Queens in New York City to Long Island were found to harbor the virus.
Nassau County has had successful eradication of rabies since 2016, prior to this most recent outbreak.
The map shows which are most likely to carry rabies in various regions across the US
Gilman said: ‘There may be more cases out in the wild — because we’ve confirmed 25, it’s indicative of wider spread.
‘First of all, [there’s concern in] the sheer volume of cases that we have seen in one year, but also the rate of spread and also, the fact that it is feral domesticated animals.’
The county will continue its rabies mitigation efforts through the fall, anticipating an increase in animal cases and concerns about potential human transmission.
‘When someone sees a cat in their backyard, it’s not necessarily as much of a reaction as seeing a wild animal,’ Gelman added, warning that children may also unknowingly play with a rabid cat.
The health department plans to use a rabies vaccine bait drop along the border with Queens and throughout the county. It involves distributing edible baits containing the rabies vaccine, often by air or vehicle, in residential areas where rabies is prevalent.
‘The time for prevention is now,’ Gelman said. ‘One ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That’s exactly what we’re trying to accomplish here.’
