Over 30 rabid raccoons were reported by the New York City Department of Health in December, 2009 and January, 2010. The majority of the raccoons were found in the northern half of Central Park with a few in surrounding areas, including Morningside Park. No rabid raccoons have been found in nearby Riverside Park.
Rabies Warning, January 2010
On Friday, January 28th, 2010, officials warned of possible transmission from raccoons to humans. An interview conducted the week of January 25th with a member of New York’s Urban Park Rangers indicates the health department is working closely with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and other city, state and federal agencies to determine a plan for containing the outbreak.
Surveillance, Testing and Oral Rabies Vaccine (ORV)
Surveillance and testing of wild raccoons has been stepped up, and the city may have already begun distributing baited oral rabies vaccine (ORV) in the parks to inoculate healthy raccoons, and slow transmission of the disease.
ORV has been widely used in many states to control the spread of rabies. The vaccine is placed in small blocks or packets, much like fast food condiment packets, that have been baited with fishmeal to attract raccoons. In rural areas, the baited vaccine is often dropped from the air over a wide forest area. In Central Park, it will probably be placed by hand in targeted areas where raccoons are known to feed.
History of Rabies in Manhattan
Manhattan had no known cases of raccoon rabies during the six years between 2003 and 2009, making the 2009 outbreak even more startling. In July 2009, the first rabid raccoon was found in the northern part of Manhattan, followed in August by an infected raccoon at the northern end of Central Park. In early December, the discovery of two more rabid raccoons in Central Park prompted the Department of Health to issue its first warning.
Increased Rate of Transmission
By the end of 2009, eight more rabid raccoons had been reported. In the first month of 2010, twenty-three rabid raccoons were identified in Manhattan. The number indicates a steep and troubling increase in the rate of transmission.
According to Dr. Charles Rupprecht, head of the rabies program at the Center for Disease Control, “Urban ecosystems sometimes have the ideal measures”to contribute to an outbreak. In particular, the lack of predators, along with abundant food from park visitors can lead to an unnaturally large population.
About Rabies
Rabies is a highly contagious, fatal encephalitic disease of the central nervous system. Caused by a virus, rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. A bite or scratch is the most common method of transmission. All mammals, including humans, can contract rabies, although it is rare in small mammals like rats, squirrels and rabbits. Cats have surpassed dogs as the domestic animal most likely to be infected, probably because many owners allow pet cats to roam free and do not maintain routine rabies vaccinations.
What to Do If Bitten By a Wild Animal
If you are bitten by a wild animal, immediately wash the wound with copious amounts of soap and water, and immediately contact your medical provider immediately. Call 311 to report the bite, and have the animal captured for testing, of possible. If the animal cannot be captured, you will need to receive a course of preventive shots to protect you from the rabies virus.
For more information on rabies:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Rabies
For more information on raccoons, Manhattan's rabies outbreak, and urban wildlife:
Urban Wildlife–Raccoons in Manhattan
Raccoon Rabies Spreads in New York City's Central Park
Urban Wildlife – Birds of Prey in Manhattan
Melissa Cooper - Melissa Cooper is a freelance writer who specializes in articles about the history and natural history of Manhattan, urban wildlife and ...
