Yesterday, the New York State Department of Health confirmed that two additional raccoons captured in Nassau Country tested positive for rabies, bringing the total to three rabid raccoons. Based on these results, the County and State Health Departments will expand their efforts to control terrestrial rabies on Long Island.

"Long Island has been essentially rabies-free for decades, and our best chance of remaining rabies-free is an aggressive program to immunize raccoons while continuing intensive surveillance for sick animals," said Dr. David M. Ackman, Commissioner of Health. "Starting next week, the New York State Department of Health will begin trapping and vaccinating animals in a two-mile radius around the area where the first rabid raccoon was detected, similar to what New York State is doing in other counties. In early September, we will enlarge the vaccination program by distributing raccoon bait across a large portion of the Town of Oyster Bay. The bait contains a rabies vaccine that will immunize any raccoon that eats it. Our goal is to prevent the establishment of terrestrial rabies on Long Island by capturing enough sick raccoons and vaccinating a substantial percentage of healthy raccoons."

What: Vaccinating raccoons is a two-part program: 1) In the Trap-Vaccinate-Release (TVR) procedure, raccoons are trapped and, if they appear healthy, they are vaccinated and released. Sick animals are euthanized and tested for rabies. This program is followed by 2) An Oral Rabies Vaccine (ORV) distribution. ORV involves finger-size packets of baited vaccine, which are distributed in a designated area by hand and by helicopter.

When: The TVR procedure will start Monday, August 30th. The ORV will begin early-to-mid September.

Where: TVR will be conducted within a two-mile radius of where the first raccoon was captured in Old Brookville. ORV will occur over approximately 24 square miles, primarily in the Town of Oyster Bay and a part of the Town of North Hempstead. The area is bounded by the railroad tracks of the Oyster Bay line on the north, Route 106 on the east, Jericho Turnpike on the south and Glen Cove Road on the west.

Why: With three raccoons infected with rabies, there is a good likelihood that other raccoons are also infected. With each generation of transmission, it will become more difficult to prevent the establishment of rabies on Long Island. Because of the threat to wildlife and domestic animals from terrestrial rabies, action needs to be taken quickly to maximize the chance of preventing rabies from becoming endemic here.

Who: Veterinarians and wildlife biologists from the New York State Department of Health Zoonoses Program will conduct the vaccinations.

How: For TVR, raccoons are humanely live-trapped and, if healthy, vaccinated and released. If they are ill, the animals are euthanized and tested for rabies. For ORV, raccoons are attracted by the scent of the bait and are immunized when they eat one of the packets.

Recommendations: The New York State Department of Health recommends:

• Keep all dogs and cats indoors or on leashes during the oral bait distribution in September 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 . The bait, itself, will not harm a child. In the unlikely event that a child bites through the packet and ingests the liquid vaccine, contact the Poison Control Center at 542-2323.
  
• Remember that it is not possible to get rabies from the vaccine. The vaccine does not contain the rabies virus.
  
• 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 nor to most other animals. (There is a label that clearly identifies the bait packet: "Rabies Vaccine Live Vaccinia Vector. Do Not Disturb, Merial, Inc Us Vet lic no 298 1-877-722-6725." )
  
• 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. It is not harmful to touch an intact bait. However, because of the offensive odor, gloves are recommended. Wash hands thoroughly after any direct contact with the bait.
  
• Residents who see raccoons should NOT try to trap the raccoons themselves. Call a licensed trapper.

General Information: Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system of raccoons and other mammals, including humans. The disease is always fatal once clinical signs of infection occur. Vaccination will greatly decrease the chance of human and domestic animal contact with rabid raccoons. Rabies is transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal. However, the virus may also be transmitted when the saliva of a rabid animal comes into contact with cut, open, or scratched skin lesions. To protect yourself from exposure to possible rabies:

• Keep domestic animals (dogs, cats, ferrets) on a leash and keep livestock confined in the evenings.
• Do not touch or have contact with any animal other than your own.
• Do not touch dying or dead animals. If you must move them, use a shovel, wear heavy rubber gloves and double bag the carcass.
• Advise your family against approaching any unknown animal -- wild or domestic -- especially those acting in an unusual way.
• Instruct your children to tell you immediately if they were bitten or scratched by any animal.
• Notify the Health Department if a bat is found in a room where adults or children were sleeping, or if an adult enters a room and finds a bat with a child.
• Do not feed unknown animals and discourage them from seeking food near your home
• Keep garbage cans tightly covered and avoid storing any food outside.
• Verify that your pets have current rabies vaccination, including dogs, cats, ferrets, livestock and horses.

New York State law requires all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies. If an unvaccinated pet or one that's overdue on its vaccination comes in contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal, the pet must either be destroyed or strictly quarantined for six months. However, if a vaccinated animal comes into contact with a wild animal, it needs only a booster vaccination, but this immunization must be administered within five days of exposure. If you care for your family and your pet, it is absolutely essential that your animals have up-to-date rabies inoculations.

Individuals bitten or scratched by any animal should call the Nassau County Department of Health and immediately contact their physicians or seek medical help at a hospital emergency room.

For information regarding rabies and baiting, call Nassau County Department of Health at (516) 571-2500 or the New York State Department of Health at (518) 474-3186 weekdays from 9:00 AM - 4:45 PM or visit the department website at www.nassaucountyny.gov/Health or the state website at www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/zoonoses/rabies.htm