NYC Launches Urgent Vaccination Campaign for Raccoons

News Summary

In response to a growing rabies outbreak among raccoons, New York City is launching an urgent vaccination campaign. The Health Department will distribute oral vaccines in targeted areas of Brooklyn and Queens to curb the rise in confirmed cases. With 11 raccoons testing positive as of April, officials are taking proactive measures to protect public health. Residents are advised to avoid contact with vaccine baits and ensure their pets are vaccinated against rabies.

New York City is launching an urgent campaign to vaccinate raccoons against rabies in response to a growing outbreak of the disease among the city’s raccoon population. This initiative affects neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, where confirmed rabies cases have been steadily rising.

As of April, 11 raccoons have tested positive for rabies in New York City, with six cases reported from Queens, two from Brooklyn, and three from Staten Island. The NYC Health Department is taking immediate action to prevent further spread of the virus, which poses serious health risks to humans and pets.

The Health Department had previously suspended a similar vaccination campaign in 2024 due to funding shortages. However, the department has now secured the necessary financial resources, utilizing a budget of $40,000 from the city’s pest control budget, in addition to funds from the Parks Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This allows the campaign to resume ahead of its usual schedule in the fall.

The spring vaccination effort involves distributing oral fish-scented vaccines designed to attract raccoons to targeted areas. These baits resemble ketchup packets and contain a small amount of a pink liquid that immunizes raccoons when consumed. By administering the vaccine early in the year, the aim is to curb the ongoing outbreak and minimize the chances of further rabies transmission among raccoon populations.

Infected raccoons have been identified in several neighborhoods, with the following locations confirmed as hotspots for confirmed rabies cases:

• 227th Street and 131st Avenue in Laurelton (April 15)
• Farmers Boulevard and Suffolk Drive in Springfield Gardens (March 17)
• Cooper Avenue and 59th Street in Middle Village (January 28)
• 59th Avenue and 153rd Street in Flushing (January 21 & January 8)
• 119th Drive and Farmers Boulevard in South Jamaica (January 3)

The NYC Health Department is emphasizing the seriousness of rabies due to its fatal consequences for humans if left untreated. Raccoons are a primary carrier of the virus in New York City, and it can be transmitted to humans and pets through bites or scratches.

Residents are advised to avoid direct contact with the vaccine baits. If physical contact occurs, individuals should wash their hands thoroughly and contact the NYC Poison Center for further guidance. It is crucial for New Yorkers to keep their pets’ rabies vaccinations current and to maintain a safe distance from wildlife.

This vaccination campaign represents a proactive measure to protect public health and wildlife in New York City, aiming to break the cycle of rabies transmission in affected neighborhoods. With the rise of rabies cases, the Health Department’s efforts are essential to safeguarding both the residents and the raccoon population from further outbreaks.

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Additional Resources

• Patch: NYC to Vaccinate Raccoons Against Rabies
• Wikipedia: Rabies
• BK Reader: Raccoons Vaccinated Against Rabies
• Google Search: Rabies Vaccine
• Fox 5 NY: NYC to Vaccinate Raccoons Against Rabies
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Rabies
• Sunnyside Post: Raccoons Found with Rabies in Queens
• Google News: Raccoons Rabies