Westchester County Department of Health

RABIES ALERT UPDATE JANUARY 19, 2024: Two More People Come Forward After Being Bit By Rabid Fox Killed in Peekskill

Two more people who were bit by the rabid fox have come forward after the Westchester County Department of Health issued an alert to the community Wednesday, that a fox that bit two residents in Peekskill last Saturday, tested positive for rabies. The two subsequent residents who were bit were not receiving treatment for rabies, but are now under a doctor’s care. 

Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, said: “If you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal, you must immediately contact the Westchester County Health Department – your life depends on it.  Exposure to rabies when left untreated can lead to death. In this case the two subsequent individuals saw the news reports about the rabid fox and called the Health Department. That one news report and one phone call – quite literally saved their lives.”

If you came in contact with the fox in Peekskill, please call the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. People should avoid all contact with all wild animals – especially baby wild animals.

Unusual behavior in an animal may be the first sign of rabies. A rabid animal may become either abnormally aggressive or unusually tame. It may lose fear of  people, become excited, irritable, or appear particularly passive and lethargic. Staggering and frothing at the mouth are sometimes noted.

Amler said: “If you see an animal that is acting aggressively, stay away from it and contact local police immediately. And if you are bitten or scratched, call the Health Department right away.”

Residents should never approach or have contact with a stray or wild animal.  Residents who see a stray or wild animal acting strangely should alert local authorities to avoid possible exposure to rabies. Residents are also advised to keep their trashcan lids securely sealed, remove wild bird feeders, and avoid leaving pet food outdoors.

Any physical contact with a wild or unfamiliar animal should be reported to a health care provider. All animal bites or contact with animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000, 24 hours a day.

Keeping pet rabies vaccinations up to date is also important for protection against rabies. New York State law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies and receive regular booster shots. For more information call the RABIES INFO-LINE at (914) 813-5010.

RABIES ALERT JANUARY 17, 2024: RABID FOX KILLED IN PEEKSKILL 

(White Plains, NY) – The Westchester County Department of Health is issuing an alert to the community after a fox that bit two residents in Peekskill last Saturday, now tested positive for rabies. Both residents, who were together during the incident, are currently receiving preventive treatment for rabies.

The Westchester County Health Department is reminding residents that unusual behavior in an animal may be the first sign of rabies. A rabid animal may become either abnormally aggressive or unusually tame. It may lose fear of people, become excited, irritable, or appear particularly passive and lethargic. Staggering and frothing at the mouth are sometimes noted.

Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, said: “If you see an animal that is acting aggressively, stay away from it and contact local police immediately. And if you are bitten or scratched, call the Health Department right away.”

Residents should never approach or have contact with a stray or wild animal.  Residents who see a stray or wild animal acting strangely should alert local authorities to avoid possible exposure to rabies. Residents are also advised to keep their trashcan lids securely sealed, remove wild bird feeders, and avoid leaving pet food outdoors.

Any physical contact with a wild or unfamiliar animal should be reported to a health care provider. All animal bites or contacts with animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000, 24 hours a day.

Keeping pet rabies vaccinations up to date is also important for protection against rabies. New York State law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies and receive regular booster shots.  For more information, call the RABIES INFOLINE at (914) 813-5010.

Bat encounters are concerning because a bite or scratch from a bat can be difficult or impossible to see. That's why it is important that everyone be educated about rabies in bats, and what to do if you find a bat in your home.

Got a bat in your house? Don’t panic.
If there’s a chance that a person or pet in your house had contact with a bat, the most important thing to do is capture that bat. If the bat can be caught, it will be sent for rabies testing. If the bat is not rabid, the person or pet who was exposed can avoid rabies shots. If the bat is rabid, life-saving vaccines must begin soon.

How to Capture a Bat
To learn how to safely capture a bat, watch this 80-second video. You’ll need a coffee can, a stiff piece of cardboard and a bit of bravery:

• Turn on room lights and close the windows.
• Close the room and closet doors.
• Wait for the bat to land.
• Wearing leather work gloves, place a coffee can, pail or similar container over the bat.
• Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat. Firmly hold the cardboard in place against the top of the container, turn it right side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container.

Once you have caught the bat, call the Westchester County Department of Health at 914-813-5000 to learn what to do next.

If you are absolutely certain that no person or pet was exposed to the bat because you saw the bat fly into your house and never lost sight of it, you can close the room and closet doors, open the windows and watch the bat until it leaves. You can also call a Licensed - Registered Trapper or your local police department/animal control officer for help.

Avoid Contact with Bats:
Bats often roost in attics or barns, but they can also be found inside closed patio umbrellas. To avoid exposure to bats, secure doors and windows and close off any small openings that will allow an animal entrance into your home. This includes screening, chimneys, attic vents, and air conditioners.

Other Resources:

• Bats and Rabies (CDC)

Free Rabies Clinic for Dogs, Cats and Ferrets
of Westchester County residents
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Walk-in
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Stamen Animal Hospital, 61 Quaker Ridge Rd., New Rochelle, NY
Please bring proof of prior rabies vaccination, if available

“Vaccinating your pet against rabies will protect your pet and your family in case your pet has contact with a rabid or potentially rabid animal,” said Westchester County Health Commissioner, Sherlita Amler, MD. 

Under New York State law, dogs and cats must receive their first rabies vaccine no later than four months after birth. A second rabies shot must be given within one year of the first vaccine, with additional booster shots given every one or three years after that, depending on the vaccine used. Owners who fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep the vaccinations up-to-date may be fined up to $2,000.

Rabies is a fatal disease that is spread through the bite or saliva of infected animals. Those animals most commonly infected are raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes. However, domestic animals such as cats and dogs are also at risk because they can easily contract rabies from wild or stray animals.

A pet that is up-to-date with its rabies vaccinations would only need to get a booster dose of vaccine within five days of the pet’s exposure to a known or suspect rabid animal. Animals not up-to-date with rabies vaccinations would need to be quarantined or potentially euthanized following contact with a rabid or suspect-rabid animal.

A change in an animal’s behavior is often the first sign of rabies. A rabid animal may become either abnormally aggressive or unusually tame. It may lose fear of people and become docile, or become excited and irritable. Staggering, spitting and frothing at the mouth are sometimes noted in infected animals. Adults should encourage children to avoid touching unfamiliar animals, and to immediately tell an adult if they have been bitten or scratched by an animal.

All animal bites or contacts with animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to the Westchester County Health Department at (914) 813-5000. After hours, callers should follow instructions in the recorded message for reporting public health emergencies 24 hours a day. 

 Learn more about rabies.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal, but can also be spread by scratches and contact with an infected animal's saliva.. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. All dogs, cats and ferrets that are four (4) months of age or older and reside within Westchester County are required to be vaccinated against rabies.

You cannot be certain that an animal has rabies just by looking at it. Animals with rabies sometimes become aggressive, foam at the mouth, or have seizures. They may attack people, other animals or objects. Rabid animals may act confused or disoriented, show signs of paralysis, and make hoarse vocal sounds. Wild animals that act tame, friendly or allow you to get close to them may also have rabies.

Rabies Prevention

Rabies can be prevented by:

• Avoiding contact with wildlife, stray animals or unknown pets.
• Bat-proofing your home.
• Vaccinating your pets (the County holds three FREE Rabies Clinics per year).
• Keeping your dog on a leash and under direct supervision outdoors.
• Keep your cat indoors.
• Spay and neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly.
• Not providing food or shelter for wildlife.
  
  

What to do if you are Bitten:
If you are bitten, scratched or have some other exposure to a potentially rabid animal, immediately wash the area with warm soapy water and call your doctor or hospital for medical advice.

Report animal bites and other exposures (including scratches). All animal bites are required by NYS Public Health Law to be reported to the local or County health officer as soon as possible.

Call the Westchester County Health Department at (914) 813-5000 24 hour a day, 7 days a week for assistance. Have your healthcare provider or emergency room staff fax a completed bite report form to (914) 813-5160. The bite report form is available for download.

Rabies Post Exposure Treatment:
Rabies post exposure treatment will be considered if the animal:

• is found to be rabid
• is not available for testing
• was untestable
• had contact with a person where a bite or scratch or contamination of any open wound or mucous membrane (eye, nose, mouth) could not be ruled out. For bats, a bite may be difficult or impossible to detect.

Or, if the person cannot say for sure if they were not exposed because he or she:

• is a young child
• was asleep
• was under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• has a sensory or mental impairment. 

Other Resources

• Rabies Information (CDC)
• Rabies Information (NYSDOH) 
• Coyote Conflicts (Encounters, Protect your pet) NYSDEC

Animal Bite/Contact Forms (Rabies)

• Report of Bite/Scratch/Contact Form (fillable pdf)
• Affidavit of a Biting Scratching Animal (fillable pdf)