The New York State Department of Health has confirmed the 5th case of rabies found in a raccoon this year in Nassau County. The animal was collected by the Nassau County Department of Health on May 16th in Matinecock. In 2004, ten raccoons were confirmed rabid.

See map for locations and dates raccoons were found

The first case of terrestrial rabies in Nassau County occurred last year in a raccoon from the Old Brookville area. As a result, the New York State Department of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with the Nassau County Department of Health, launched a massive program to trap and test animals as well as to distribute raccoon rabies vaccine by hand and by helicopter. The goal was to prevent the establishment of terrestrial rabies on Long Island by capturing sick raccoons and vaccinating a substantial percentage of healthy raccoons.

This year, the New York State Department of Health and the county are continuing to conduct a surveillance and immunization program.

Dr. David M. Ackman, Commissioner of Health is asking residents to report seeing any animal, especially raccoons or opossums that are ill, dead or acting unusually, to the Nassau County Department of Health at (516) 571-2290. "For the safety of your family, do not attempt to feed or handle any wild animal," he said. " However, surveillance is critical for the entire county in order to determine how far the outbreak has spread."

Residents are reminded that nuisance wildlife that appears to be healthy or acting normally should be referred to a licensed wildlife trapper.

Remember, New York State law requires all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies.

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

Additional recommendations to protect yourself and your loved ones from exposure to possible rabies:

• Keep domestic animals (dogs, cats, and 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.
• 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 RELEASE THE BAT, and notify the county health department immediately.
• 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.

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.

For information regarding rabies visit 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.