DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE Oxiris Barbot, MD Commissioner

2019 Veterinary Alert #5: Rabid Raccoons in Highbridge Park

• Two raccoons found near Highbridge Park in Manhattan in early November tested positive for rabies. o Oral rabies vaccine will be distributed in Highbridge Park and surrounding parks to help prevent further spread. • This follows the identification earlier this year of 6 rabid raccoons found near . • Veterinarians should ensure that their clients’ pets are up to date for rabies vaccination and educate pet owners regarding rabies prevention. • Veterinarians should consider rabies in the differential diagnosis for any patient with a history of exposure to a potentially rabid wild or feral animal, a bite wound of unknown origin, or recent importation, and/or if presenting with progressive neurologic disease. • For current information on rabies and animals testing positive for rabies in NYC, visit www.nyc.gov/health/rabies.

Please share with your colleagues in Veterinary Medicine and your staff

November 8, 2019

Dear Veterinary Colleagues,

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) identified two raccoons collected near Highbridge Park in northern Manhattan that tested positive for rabies. A sick raccoon reported on November 1st was found at 169 Street and Amsterdam Avenue, and an injured raccoon reported on November 4th was found at 164 Street and Edgecombe Avenue. There were no known human or pet exposures to the raccoons.

Earlier this year six rabid raccoons and one skunk were found in and around Inwood Hill Park. In response, DOHMH worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation to vaccinate raccoons in Inwood Hill, Isham, Fort Tryon, Fort Washington, and Riverbank parks and the northern section of . Two methods were employed: oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baiting, and trap- vaccinate-release (TVR) to directly administer the rabies vaccine. To prevent further spread of rabies, additional ORV will be distributed over the next few weeks in Highbridge Park and surrounding parks to vaccinate raccoons.

The ORV baits are not harmful to people, pets, or wildlife. Baits contain a packet of pink liquid vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein (V-RG) recombinant virus vaccine coated in a brown bait containing fishmeal, fish oil, and wax. Each bait contains approximately 2 mL rabies vaccine and is labeled with a toll-free number that routes to the NYC Poison Control Center.

In NYC and along the Atlantic Coast, rabid raccoons pose the greatest risk of rabies for pets and other domestic animals. Less commonly, rabid bats can also transmit rabies. Remember to consider rabies as part of the differential diagnosis for any animal presenting with a progressive neurological illness particularly if the animal is a stray, has a history of a bite wound of unknown origin or known exposure to a potentially rabid 1 animal or rabies vector species (raccoons, skunks and bats), or in a dog imported from a country where dog rabies (the canine rabies variant) circulates.

Rabies Vaccination for Dogs and Cats As a reminder, maintaining vaccination against rabies is required of all dogs and cats in NYC. The NYC Health Code requires that all puppies and kittens receive their first rabies shot(s) by 4 months of age. Revaccination is required no later than one year after the primary vaccination, and revaccinations administered at intervals thereafter, in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer of a U.S.D.A. approved rabies vaccine intended to maintain active immunization. Veterinarians should educate their clients that even indoor dogs and cats are at risk if they escape outside or if a rabid bat enters the home.

Management of dogs and cats exposed to a rabies vector species or any rabid animal Any dog or cat that may have been exposed to a rabid animal should be reported to the DOHMH. DOHMH will work with the pet owner and the veterinarian to determine appropriate follow up. Dogs and cats that have never been vaccinated are required to either be euthanized or isolated for up to six months in a facility and manner prescribed by the DOHMH under daily veterinary observation. Dogs and cats with a history of rabies vaccination but that are not current and pets with bite wounds of unknown origin will be managed on a case by case basis. Dogs and cats that are currently rabies vaccinated should immediately receive a booster vaccine and be confined and observed for 45 days in the owner’s home.

Additional information about rabies, including NYC summary data and the brochure ‘Rabies: Protecting Your Pet’ is available on the DOHMH website at http://www.nyc.gov/health/rabies. Call 311 to order copies of the brochure in English or Spanish.

What All Veterinarians Can Do ➢ Educate clients to: o Avoid contact with wild animals and stray animals. o Make sure their dog or cat is up to date on its rabies vaccinations. o Avoid leaving their pets outdoors unattended and feed them indoors. o Avoid trying to separate animals that are fighting. o Contact their veterinarian if their pet has been in contact with a raccoon, skunk, bat or any animal that might be rabid. ➢ Report animal bites and suspect animal rabies cases to the DOHMH: o VPHS Animal Bite Unit (ABU) 646-364-1799 o Outside business hours, Poison Control Center: 212-POISONS (212-764-7667) ➢ Questions? Contact the NYC DOHMH: o Veterinary Public Health Services (VPHS) 646-364-1783 For questions on rabies exposures in pets, animal bites, and other animal-related issues o Bureau of Communicable Disease 347-396-2600 For questions on rabies exposures in people, PEP, and other human-related rabies issues o After Hours: NYC Poison Control Center 212-764-7667

As always, we greatly appreciate your partnership and cooperation.

Sally Slavinski, DVM, MPH, DACVPM Asha Abdool, MPH Norma S. Torres Sally Slavinski, DVM, MPH, DACVPM Asha Abdool, MPH Norma S. Torres, Director Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Veterinary Public Health Services Bureau of Communicable Disease Bureau of Communicable Disease Division of Environmental Health 347-396-2672 347-396-2615 646-364-1765

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Total Laboratory Confirmed Rabies Cases by Species, NYC 1992-2019 year to date Animal Species Bronx Manhattan Staten Total Island Raccoon 205 12 153 196 9 575 Skunk 49 0 1 5 0 55 Opossum 2 1 0 3 1 7 Bat 15 5 14 6 6 46 Dog 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cat 7 0 2 8 1 18 Coyote 2 0 0 0 0 2 Groundhog 0 0 0 1 0 1 TOTAL 280 18 170 219 17 704

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