MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- The Nassau County Department of Health on Monday declared rabies an “imminent public health threat” after dozens of cases in animals.
There have been 25 confirmed rabid animals in the county since last July, most of them raccoons and feral cats, officials said.
“These cases mark a significant resurgence of rabies, which had previously been eradicated in Nassau County in 2016 following aggressive control efforts. Current surveillance data shows that the virus is now circulating across the County,” the health department said.
The declaration will help the county secure additional funding for bait vaccine and other health programs.
Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman will hold a press conference on Tuesday to discuss the issue.
In a press release Monday, Gelman said 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.”
Rabies is a viral disease that can spread to humans or pets through bites, scratches and saliva contact with open wounds from an infected animal like a raccoon.
To protect against rabies and other risks, people should avoid contact with wild or stray animals, keep pets vaccinated and supervised, and handle unfamiliar or dead animals with extreme caution, officials said.
Nassau County SPCA President Gary Rodgers said people must understand “rabies is a leading killer in the third world.”
“I know three people that survived, and they are all paraplegic,” he said.