Pet authorities recommending pet owners to revise rabies vaccinations
Headline: Protect Your Pets: New York Sees Spike in Rabies Cases, Especially in Nassau County
In the past few months, New York has seen a significant increase in rabies cases among animals, particularly in Nassau County, according to reports from FingerLakes1.com, a leading all-digital news publication that has been serving the region for more than two decades.
Since July 2021, a total of 364 animals in New York (excluding NYC) have tested positive for rabies. Among these, raccoons in Nassau County and cats in Schenectady are among the affected animals.
To protect pets from this rise in rabies cases, pet owners are strongly advised to ensure their animals are up to date on rabies vaccinations. It is also recommended to supervise pets when they are outside, avoid contact with wild or stray animals, and secure garbage and pet food to prevent attracting wildlife.
If a pet is bitten, scratched, or exposed to saliva from a wild or feral animal, immediate medical care should be sought, and the local health department contacted. Residents are also urged to report any dead, sick, or abnormally behaving animals to authorities.
Health officials have declared an imminent public health threat due to the resurgence of rabies after nearly a decade of absence in Nassau County. Measures include continuing a rabies control program that involves bait to immunize raccoons. Pet owners are warned not to feed, touch, or try to trap wild animals and to report any potential exposures quickly.
Rabies is often found in wild mammals such as skunks, foxes, and bats. The disease is primarily transmitted through saliva. Abnormal behavior and aggression can be warning signs of rabies in animals.
Human cases of rabies are rare, but residents are urged to avoid stray or wild animals. FingerLakes1.com provides morning news updates (Morning Edition) and offers a mobile app for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad) for those who wish to stay informed.
The news submission system for FingerLakes1.com is news@our website. FingerLakes1.com was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades.
[1] FingerLakes1.com, "Protect Your Pets: New York Sees Spike in Rabies Cases, Especially in Nassau County", [Date of Publication], Available: https://www.fingerlakes1.com/news/local-news/2021/08/protect-your-pets-new-york-sees-spike-in-rabies-cases-especially-in-nassau-county/
[2] RochesterFirst, "Rabies Alert Issued in Nassau County After Positive Test", [Date of Publication], Available: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/rabies-alert-issued-in-nassau-county-after-positive-test/
[3] New York State Department of Health, "Rabies", Available: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/rabies/
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Rabies", Available: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html
- In light of the increasing number of rabies cases in animals, particularly in Nassau County, it's crucial for pet owners to prioritize the health-and-wellness of their pets by keeping their vaccinations current to protect them from rabies.
- To ensure the overall health-and-wellness of pets and the public, it's important to adhere to guidelines such as supervising pets outdoors, avoiding contact with wild or stray animals, and securing garbage and pet food to prevent attracting wildlife.
