Rabies alert on Long Island after infected raccoon found – safety steps to follow

A raccoon captured in Nassau County has tested positive for rabies, the first confirmed case of the disease on Long Island since 2007. Suffolk Health Commissioner Dr. James Tomarken has issued an alert, asking the public to be on the lookout for animals that appear sick. Residents of Babylon and Huntington have been asked to report any raccoons acting abnormally, as well as any dead animals.

Rabies is a virus which is usually transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal, that infects the central nervous system. It can also be transferred through open cuts or skin lesions if there is contact with infected saliva. Animals most commonly found to carry rabies are raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes and bats. East Hampton wildlife trapper Dell Cullum says feral cats are also frequently infected.

Signs of rabies include paralysis and wandering aimlessly. However, similar symptoms may also be caused by distemper. Additional signs of rabies include aggression, fearfulness, excessive drooling and other unusual behavior. Cullum says the best way to distinguish between distemper and rabies is the symptom of disorientation. “Most commonly, the sick animal will walk in circles, stumble, or show difficulty using their back legs . . . this looks terrifying; however, at this point they are usually very close to death.

Tomarken says that dead animals should be discarded in the garbage, but warns that this should be done using a shovel, wearing rubber gloves, and double-bagging the carcass to avoid making any contact with the body.

Nassau County officials also offer the following recommendations for avoiding rabies transmission:

• Keep lids on trash cans secured.
• Keep pets leashed and keep livestock confined at night, the time when raccoons are more active.
• Avoid contact with strays or wildlife. Never feed them and never touch a dead or dying animal. Do not approach an unknown animals, particularly if it is acting unusual.
• Do not relocate any wild animals.
• Instruct children to tell an adult immediately if they have been scratched or bitten by an animal.
• Make sure dogs, cats and ferrets are vaccinated against rabies.
• Notify health officials if a bat is found where people have been sleeping, or in a room where a child was alone.