Rabies animal cases in Valley Stream: What you need to know

Two months ago, the Nassau County Health Department announced a reported case of something not seen since 2016: a feral animal with rabies. The animal — a feral cat discovered in Cedarhurst by the Town of Hempstead — tested positive for the disease. Last month, two other animals: another feral cat and a raccoon were confirmed with the virus in Valley Stream. As the county deals with the sudden flare-up of rabies-ridden creatures, the public, and pet owners in particular, are left to wonder: should we be worried?

Jenna McNamara, a veterinarian technician in Manhattan’s Brilliant Veterinary Care, says the short answer is no. That is, if the proper health measures and precautions continue. Thanks in large part to robust animal vaccination rates in the New York metropolitan area McNamara, who has three decades of industry experience, says “the three reports of rabies is not a huge public health concern.”

Rabies on the rise? Experts say, 'Stay calm and vaccinate'

“By law, your pet needs to be rabies vaccinated because if they were to bite somebody, there needs to be proof that the pet is vaccinated,” said McNamara. Like viral diseases such as polio and, more recently, COVID-19, high vaccination rates result in robust herd immunity.

So far, two of the three rabies carriers reported have come from the wild-roaming cat community. While government officials do not keep exact tabs on the size of the feral cat population, estimates in Nassau County comfortably range in the tens of thousands. For years, a dedicated patchwork of animal advocates and veterinary clinicians has formed around responsibly managing their numbers. Quietly, in the background, clinics have worked to spay, neuter, and medicate hundreds of wild cats in and around communities to reduce their impact on public health and let them humanely lead longer healthier lives.

Rabies returns as wild cat population grows

But when the pandemic hit, clinics shut down and their attendant trap, neuter, and release programs were suspended. Without these interventions, veterinarians say the feral cat population has been allowed to grow unchecked, and advocates are working overtime to corral their increase.

It is unclear whether the boom in cat population — the most diagnosed domestic animal with rabies in the state — is linked to the recent uptick in rabies cases. The Nassau County Health Department could not be reached for comment as of press time. Dr. Jonathan Garellek, an infectious disease specialist at Northwell Health, has not ruled out that possibility.

“With more and more animals out there that are not vaccinated, not spayed, or neutered, then technically there can be a rise in this population,” said Garellek. “If the population is up, it’s likely the transmission of rabies is also up.”

How people and pets can stay ahead of the virus

To safeguard house pets and prevent the scourge of the virus, the county health department in partnership with local governments has and is hosting pop-up rabies vaccine clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets.

The first of these pop-ups was held at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter on August 24. The second will be held at the Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter on Sept. 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dogs, cats, and ferrets older than four months should receive their first two shots one year apart, followed by booster shots every three years, according to health department officials.

For residents to keep themselves and their pets safe, it is important to avoid wild animals and strays and to remain vigilant for the tell-tale warning signs of rabid creatures, noted McNamara.

“Signs of rabies are neurological in origin,” she said. “Common symptoms include foaming at the mouth, drooling, being aggressive, and walking around in circles.”

There is currently no effective treatment for animals once they develop rabies which almost always results in death. As for humans, the county health department urges any individual bitten or scratched by any animal to seek immediate medical care and then report their case to the department at (516) 227-9663 or their after-hour line at (516) 742-6154.

“While the public health risk is low rabies is a very dangerous infection, and you never want to get to a point where a person has all the signs and symptoms because treatment is limited,” said Garellek where usually a combination of vaccine and antibody injection in the affected area known as post-exposure prophylaxis treatment or PEP. Timing and early intervention are critical.

No human rabies cases have been reported in Nassau County due to what department officials describe as “the availability and effectiveness of immediate PEP.”

Have an opinion on this article? Send an email to jlasso@liherald.com.