Date: May 26, 2006

Rabid Raccoons Continue To Be Found In 2006

Vaccinate Your Pets

The New York State Department of Health has confirmed the 8th case of rabies found in a raccoon this year in Nassau County. It was collected on May 15th in Glen Cove. A total of 36 raccoons were confirmed rabid in 2005 and 10 raccoons were confirmed rabid in 2004.

The Nassau County Department of Health reminds residents to have their pet dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated.

“With warm weather, pets may spend more time outdoors and come in contact with other animals,” said Dr. David M. Ackman, Commissioner of Health.  “Since rabid raccoons continue to be found in the county, it is essential to have your pets vaccinated against rabies. Having pets vaccinated will help protect your family as well as your animals against this disease.”

Dr. Ackman also asks residents to report any animal, especially raccoons or opossums they see that are ill, dead or acting unusually, to the Nassau County Department of Health at (516) 571-2290.

To protect yourself and your loved ones from exposure to rabies, the Health Department recommends:

• Verify that your pets have current rabies vaccinations, including dogs, cats, ferrets, livestock and horses. New York State law requires all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies
  
  
• Keep domestic animals (dogs, cats, and ferrets) on a leash when outdoors and keep livestock confined in the evenings.
  
  
• Do not touch or have contact with any animal other than your own.
  
  
• Individuals bitten or scratched by any animal should immediately contact their physicians or seek medical help at a hospital emergency room and then call the Nassau County Department of Health.
  
  
• Do not feed wildlife or stray animals and discourage them from seeking food near your home. Keep garbage cans tightly covered and avoid storing any food outside.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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, notify the county health department immediately.  DO NOT RELEASE THE BAT.
  
  
• Nuisance wildlife that appears to be healthy or acting normally can be referred to a licensed wildlife trapper for removal.

Rabies is a viral infection that is transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal.  It affects the nervous system of raccoons and other mammals, including humans.  The disease is almost always fatal once clinical signs of infection occur.  However, vaccination will greatly decrease the chance of developing human and domestic animal infection with rabies if administered as soon as possible after contact with potentially rabid raccoons and other animals. The virus may also be transmitted when the saliva of a rabid animal comes into contact with cut, open, or scratched skin lesions.

In 2005, 36 raccoons were confirmed rabid.   In 2004, the first year terrestrial rabies was identified in the county, 10 raccoons were confirmed rabid.

For information regarding rabies visit the department website at www.nassaucountyny.gov/health or the state website at www.state.ny.us/nydoh/zoonoses/rabies or call the 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.