March 18, 2026
Nassau County's Department of Health has declared rabies an imminent public health threat after confirming 25 cases of the disease in wild and feral animals across the county since June 2024, marking a significant resurgence after the disease was eradicated in 2016.
Nassau County's Department of Health has declared rabies an imminent public health threat after confirming 25 cases of the disease in wild and feral animals across the county since June 2024. The outbreak marks a significant resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, which had successfully eradicated the disease in 2016.
Twenty-two of the confirmed cases have been in raccoons and three in feral cats. Rabid animals have been found in Cedarhurst, Valley Stream, Hewlett, Roslyn Heights, Massapequa Park, West Hempstead, and Plandome Manor — spanning communities from the county's western border to the North Shore.
The geographic spread is concerning. Cases have been confirmed as far west as Cedarhurst and as far north as Plandome Manor. Two raccoons in Massapequa Park and West Hempstead tested positive on December 29 and 30 of last year, and additional cases have continued into 2026.
Health officials point to the end of New York City's raccoon rabies baiting program as a possible factor in the resurgence. Without the vaccine baits that had kept the virus in check, infected raccoons may be migrating into Nassau County from neighboring areas.
The Department of Health is urging all residents to take the following steps: Make sure your dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, and livestock are up to date on rabies vaccinations. Do not feed, touch, or approach wild animals, stray cats, or unfamiliar dogs. Keep garbage cans sealed and don't leave pet food outdoors. If you see an animal acting strangely — staggering, aggressive, overly friendly, or appearing disoriented — stay away and call animal control immediately.
No human rabies cases have been reported in Nassau County, thanks to effective post-exposure treatment that's available at local hospitals. However, rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, which is why the Health Department is treating this as an urgent matter.
The county will continue its Raccoon Rabies Control Program this fall, distributing oral vaccine baits across affected areas to immunize the raccoon population. Nassau County has also secured over $15 million in federal funding for various public health and infrastructure projects that support community safety efforts like this one.
To report a dead, sick, or unusually behaving animal in Nassau County, email rabies@nassaucountyny.gov or call the Nassau County Department of Health at 516-227-9663.
Source: Nassau County Department of Health, ABC7, NBC New York, CBS New York, PIX11, FOX 5
