NorthShoreAlert: County Setting Rabies Vaccine Packets

NorthShoreAlert, the peninsula's mass communications service, issued an email early Monday afternoon, stating that Nassau County will be laying out rabies packets from now through Oct. 30. 

According to the alert, packets will be marked as rabies vaccine, though exact locations have not been indicated. "It could be anywhere within our area – no specific streets are specified, although one would imagine that areas with higher populations of raccoons are more likely to be targeted," the alert stated. 

Parents and caregivers are advised to supervise children and pets closely from now up until a week after the distribution period. The county advises pet owners to keep animals indoors or on leashes. And though the packets "are not harmful long-term to pets," it could cause vomiting, according to the alert. In the event of direct contact with the bait, contact Poison Control Center at 516.542.2323.

Raccoons are attracted by the scent of the bait and are immunized when they eat the contents of the vaccine packet. The bait does not contain the rabies virus, but rather attenuated vaccinia virus, a weakened version of the virus, also used to vaccinate people against smallpox, according to the county.

To receive time-sensitive alerts to stay informed of emergencies and certain community events, visit northshorealert.org. For more information about the county's raccoon baiting program, click here.